LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Official Photographs

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Leader of the House how many official photographs have been taken of (a) Ministers and (b) senior officials for use in Government publications since May 2010; how many of his staff are expected to undertake photography of the ministerial and senior leadership team as part of their duties; and if he will make a statement.

George Young: One official photograph of myself and one of the Deputy Leader of the House, my hon. Friend the Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr Heath), have been taken for use in official Government publications since May 2010. No members of my staff are tasked with taking official photographs of the ministerial or leadership team as part of their duties.

Public Reading Stage

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Leader of the House when he plans to bring forward proposals for a public reading stage for Bills.

George Young: The Government are currently reviewing the operation of the public reading stage of the Protection of Freedoms Bill, and will then bring forward proposals for future public reading stages in due course.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

GPT: Corruption

Julian Huppert: To ask the Attorney-General by what date he plans to determine whether a full investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into allegations of bribery by GPT should be allowed to proceed.

Edward Garnier: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) can confirm that a number of allegations have been made against GPT Special Project Management Ltd and that these allegations are being considered by them. The SFO has engaged with EADS, the parent company of GPT Special Project Management Ltd, on how these issues are to be addressed.
	The decision on whether to proceed with an investigation is a matter for the Director of the SFO.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, columns 166-8W, on animal experiments, how many enquiries were made in relation to (a) project and (b) personal licences including those which did not lead to a formal application in each of the last three years.

Lynne Featherstone: We do not record the information requested, only the number of formal licence applications. Typically most applications for licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act will involve discussions between the applicants and the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Inspectorate.

Arrest Warrants

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) people and (b) UK citizens were extradited from the UK to each EU member state under a European Arrest Warrant in 2010-11.

Damian Green: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The information is as follows:
	(a)In 2010-11 1,173 people were surrendered from the UK under an European Arrest Warrant (EAW). Of these, 48 were UK citizens. The following table breaks this down by member state.
	
		
			 Country Surrenders 
			 Austria 1 
			 Belgium 10 
			 Bulgaria 1 
			 Cyprus 1 
			 Czech Republic 51 
			 Estonia 3 
			 Finland 2 
			 France 10 
			 Germany 27 
			 Greece 9 
			 Hungary 32 
			 Ireland 21 
			 Italy 12 
			 Latvia 35 
			 Lithuania 100 
			 Malta 2 
			 Netherlands 17 
			 Poland 761 
			 Portugal 7 
			 Romania 35 
			 Slovakia 16 
			 Spain 17 
			 Sweden 3 
			 Total 1,173 
		
	
	(b) Out of the total 1,173 surrenders from the UK in 2010-11, 48 were UK citizens. They were surrendered to the following European Union member states:
	
		
			 Country Surrenders 
			 Belgium 3 
		
	
	
		
			 Czech Republic 1 
			 France 2 
			 Germany 7 
			 Greece 8 
			 Ireland 4 
			 Malta 1 
			 Netherlands 5 
			 Poland 1 
			 Spain 16 
			 Total 48

Arrest Warrants

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were extradited to the UK from each EU member state under a European Arrest Warrant in 2010-11.

Damian Green: holding answer 7 November 2011
	In 2010-11, 134 people were surrendered to the UK under an European Arrest Warrant (EAW). This included 133 extradited from other European Union member states and one from Gibraltar. The following table breaks this down by member state.
	
		
			 Country Total 
			 Austria 2 
			 Belgium 2 
			 Bulgaria 1 
			 Cyprus 1 
			 Czech Republic 3 
			 Estonia 1 
			 Finland 1 
			 France 14 
			 Germany 4 
			 Gibraltar 1 
			 Hungary 1 
			 Ireland 22 
			 Italy 2 
			 Lithuania 3 
			 Malta 2 
			 Netherlands 26 
			 Poland 3 
			 Portugal 2 
			 Romania 4 
			 Spain 38 
			 Sweden 1 
			 Total 134

Asylum

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases the UK Border Agency's Case Assurance and Audit Unit has considered in each month since July 2011.

Damian Green: From July 2011 to October 2011 the UK Border Agency's (UKBA's) Case Assurance and Audit Unit has considered cases relating to 6,651 cases:
	July: 1,753 cases
	August: 1,471 cases
	September: 1,785 cases
	October: 1,642 cases.
	Source
	Local Management information provided by UKBA, North West Region Planning and MI team. It is not a national statistic. As such it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.

Asylum

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to maintain the current average time for processing an asylum case.

Damian Green: We have scrapped the system which encouraged case owners to concentrate on files that were easy to resolve and discouraged them from tackling older cases. We have introduced a new performance framework consisting of a wide range of performance indicators which will help us to monitor the overall health of the asylum system.
	Reform of the asylum system has already begun, through our Asylum Improvement Programme which is exploring and implementing ways to improve the efficiency and speed of the asylum system while maintaining and improving quality. We have already seen improvement outcomes from this project.
	The asylum system now consistently delivers in excess of 50% and often above 60% of decisions within 30 days of application, up from 21% in the May 2009 cohort. In excess of 90% of cases have a decision within six months.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 408W, on bovine tuberculosis: disease control, if she will reach an estimate of the costs of any police response and associated costs related to badger culling as part of her discussions with the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Nick Herbert: We are in discussion with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the police response and associated costs related to badger culling.

Civil Disorder

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has any plans to bring forward proposals for the repeal of section 2 (1) and (2) of the Riot (Damages) Act 1886.

Nick Herbert: The Riot (Damages) Act is currently under review.

Civil Disorder

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made with the review into policing methods following the disturbances of August 2011.

Nick Herbert: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to look at the disorder, and for its findings to inform and support police guidance, tactics and public order policing resources.

Official Photographs

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many official photographs have been taken of (a) Ministers and (b) senior officials in her Department for use in Government publications since May 2010; how many staff of her Department are expected to undertake photography of the ministerial and senior leadership team as part of their duties; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Official photographs were taken of Ministers during their first few days in office in May 2010. These are used for organisation charts, departmental publications and websites. Subsequently, official photographs were taken of Baroness Browning when she joined the ministerial team in May 2011. The images are available on flickr for use by the press and public.
	In January 2011, official photographs were taken of the new Permanent Secretary.
	Members of the communication team occasionally take photographs of Ministers or senior officials on visits, though this is not a formal part of their role.

Procurement

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings she has had with representatives of (a) social enterprises, (b) charities, (c) large private sector businesses and (d) small and medium-sized private sector businesses since May 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Information on meetings with external interest groups is published by the Cabinet Office and can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/non-personal-data/hospitality-business-expenses/

Entry Clearances

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many holders of (a) Tier 1 and (b) Tier 2 visas previously held Tier 4 visas on (i) 1 September 2011, (ii) 1 September 2010 and (iii) 1 September 2009.

Damian Green: The information requested is not available in the required format and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Entry Clearances: Domestic Service

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the migrant domestic workers who were granted settlement in 2009 originally entered the UK on a (a) domestic worker (visitor), (b) domestic worker (other) and (c) domestic worker (diplomat) visa.

Damian Green: We are unable to specify the visa categories that individuals granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) originally entered the UK on, as this information is not held centrally by the UK Border Agency.
	In 2009, 791(1) individuals were granted ILR as Overseas Domestic Workers in a Private Household.
	In June 2011, the Government launched a consultation into, “Employment-Related Settlement, Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers” This consultation document proposes changes to the settlement rights of those coming to the UK to work as well as changes to Tier 5 of the points-based system and the rules for overseas domestic workers.
	Analysis to support the consultation outcome is due to be published in the near future.
	(1) Figure taken from published Immigration Statistics April-June 2011
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q2-2011/

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which colleges she has received representations on changes to the Tier 4 visa system; on what dates; if she will publish a summary of such representations; and what steps she proposes to take in response to those representations.

Damian Green: The Government held a public consultation on the student immigration system from December 2010 to January 2011. Over 30,851 responses were received through an online survey and over 300 were received by email or post during the consultation period. In March 2011 the Government published the questionnaire results, which summarised the representations received, alongside a Statement of Intent setting out proposals for reforms to Tier 4. There has been additional ongoing correspondence received from colleges in relation to these changes.
	The Government responded to the concerns raised by the sector and made a number of changes to the proposals prior to changing the immigration rules.

Forensic Science Service

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she is taking any steps to ensure that staff currently working for the Forensic Science Service (FSS) are retained within the forensic science industry after the closure of the FSS.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The Home Office continues to support the orderly transition of work from the Forensic Science Service (FSS). As part of this some of the current FSS staff will move to a range of other providers of forensic science services.
	We have committed to update the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on this matter in June 2012.

Forensic Science Service

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the future costs of maintaining the National Forensic Science Archive.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 7 November 2011
	We are working closely with the Forensic Science Service and key partners to ensure that the Forensic Science Service archive continues to meet the requirements of the criminal justice system. We will rigorously test costs to ensure the archive provides good value for money for the taxpayer. A full business case is currently being finalised.

Identity and Passport Service: Vacancies

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there are in each office of the Identity and Passport Service; and how many jobs in each office are being advertised.

Damian Green: As part of the civil service recruitment freeze, there is no external recruitment of staff. Only existing civil servants can be recruited. As at 21 November 2011 the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) was actively recruiting for 114 vacancies, broken down as follows:
	52 non-operational vacancies, largely based in London;
	62 operational vacancies, of which:
	five to be based at the new Newport Customer Service Centre,
	six to replace natural turnover largely at the Peterborough area processing centre and records office,
	51 to be based around the country at a number of different interview offices and flexible teams.
	Of these, we currently have 31 advertisements covering 64 of the vacancies on the civil service jobs website for existing civil servants only with the remainder having proceeded to the post application stages.

Illegal Immigrants: Frontex

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of illegal migrants that were likely to have travelled to the UK that have been intercepted by Frontex in each year since it was established; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The role of Frontex is to support the border management authorities of states through the coordination of operational activities. There is no distinction made between the numbers of migrants intercepted by officials of the host state as opposed to those intercepted by guest officers from other states taking part in a Frontex-co-ordinated operation. Undocumented migrants may be questioned about the route they have taken, facilitators used and their ultimate destination. Information gathered remains the property of the state hosting the Frontex operation and it is therefore not possible to estimate how many of those intercepted would have travelled to the UK.

Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration case files have been open for (a) one year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) four years and (e) five years.

Damian Green: The number of immigration case files that have been open for:
	(a) Less than one year is 101,428
	(b) Between one and two years is 6,327
	(c) Between two and three years is 8,057
	(d) Between three and four years is 6,422
	(e) Between four and five years is 4,064
	This includes all open asylum and temporary and permanent migration cases.
	All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Independent Police Complaints Commission

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resource funding she plans to allocate to the Independent Police Complaints Commission for the financial year 2012-13.

Nick Herbert: The Independent Police Complaints Commission has received an indicative resource budget from the Home Office of £31.45 million for 2012-13. Final budgets for 2012-13 will be confirmed in the new year.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 31 May 2011 on the Winsor review, reference M10105.11.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 27 June 2011
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 3 October 2011.

National Policing Improvement Agency

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has plans to involve the private sector in the provision of (a) police IT and (b) police training following the abolition of the National Policing Improvement Agency.

Nick Herbert: The private sector is already involved in the provision of police IT and police training. We will look for further efficiencies and value for money from services currently provided by the National Policing Improvement Agency.

Police Commissioners

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral answer by the Prime Minister of 7 September 2011, Official Report, column 350, on police commissioners, whether local authorities will be liable for the costs of elections for police commissioners.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 15 September 2011
	The full cost of elections for Police and Crime Commissioners will neither fall on police forces nor on local authorities.

UK Border Agency: Bullying

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bullying and harassment cases are currently being pursued by UK Border Agency staff.

Damian Green: 31 cases of bullying and harassment are being investigated by the UK Border Agency at this time.

UK Border Agency: Resignations

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff with between 15 and 20 years' service have resigned from the UK Border Agency since May 2010.

Damian Green: The number of staff with between 15 and 20 years’ service who have resigned from the UK Border Agency since May 2010 up to 31 October 2011 is 12.

TRANSPORT

Air Passenger Duty

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with HM Treasury on the future of air passenger duty; and what her policy is on the abolition of air passenger duty after the extension of the EU Emissions Trading System to the aviation sector.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport has regular discussions with HM Treasury on a range of aviation issues. Decisions on matters concerning taxation are taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne).
	The Government remain committed to the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System from 1 January 2012.

Air Passenger Duty

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she and her Department have had with HM Treasury over the future of air passenger duty.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport has regular discussions with HM Treasury on a range of aviation issues, including air passenger duty. Decisions on matters concerning taxation are taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne).

Air Travel Organisers’ Licence

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to her Department's planned reforms of the ATOL scheme, what the evidence basis is for her Department's conclusion that a two day Flight-plus buying window closely resembles a package in the eyes of consumers.

Theresa Villiers: The purpose of reform is to provide greater clarity to consumers about whether their flight inclusive holiday is ATOL-protected or not. The aim of including Flight Plus in ATOL is to protect those holidays that are very similar in content and appearance to package holidays but are outside the legal definition of a package holiday. The Department proposed a short time period for customer requests for Flight Plus components as this would be most consistent with this aim.
	Views on the timing for consumer requests for holiday components were sought in the ATOL reform consultation (23 June to 15 September 2011). We are considering the responses and I plan to announce the final decisions for ATOL reform later this year or early next year.

Aviation

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will assess the findings of the report by the British Chambers of Commerce on aviation, entitled ‘Flying in the Face of Jobs and Growth’.

Theresa Villiers: The Government issued an aviation policy scoping document in March 2011, calling for evidence on a range of strategic issues. The British Chambers of Commerce produced the report ‘Flying in the Face of Jobs and Growth’ in response to the scoping document. We are reviewing the findings of this report alongside the many contributions to the debate about our future aviation policy. We will issue a Sustainable Framework for UK Aviation for public consultation in spring 2012.

Aviation: Business

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with representatives of (a) business and (b) aviation groups on aviation's role in supporting business.

Theresa Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), and I have engaged with business and aviation representatives on a range of aviation issues. The Government want to see a successful aviation sector which facilitates economic growth and addresses its environmental impacts. We are committed to issuing a Sustainable Framework for UK Aviation for public consultation in spring 2012.
	Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/ministerial-transparency/#meetings

Aviation: Regulation

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress she has made in reducing the burden of regulation in the aviation sector.

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress she has made in reducing the burden of regulation in the aviation sector.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in reducing the regulatory burden affecting the aviation sector.

Theresa Villiers: The Government are currently undertaking a review of the existing stock of regulation with a view to removing over burdensome regulatory legislation.
	As part of this process, in May next year the public and businesses will be invited to submit ideas for regulations in the aviation sector that might be amended or revoked so as to reduce their burden on the industry or to the public as a whole.

Bus Services: Greater Manchester

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on greater bus regulation in Greater Manchester.

Norman Baker: We encourage local authorities such as Transport for Greater Manchester and bus operators to work in partnership. Local authorities also have powers to pursue statutory Quality Contracts and Quality Partnerships if appropriate. I intend to wait for the outcome of the Competition Commission inquiry into the local bus market outside London before deciding on the need for any changes to the regulatory regime.

Coastguard Service: Finance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the change has been in levels of staffing costs for the Coastguard Service since May 2010.

Michael Penning: The staffing costs for coastguards employed at Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres for May 2010 compared to October 2011 are set out as follows:
	
		
			  Staffing costs (£) 
			 May 2010 1,167,307.44 
			 October 2011 1,126,625.27

Driving Tests: Bury

David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the driving test centre will re-open in Bury.

Michael Penning: The driving test centre at Bury is scheduled to re-open in February 2012.

Fuels: EU Action

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her Department's policy is on the proposed EU Directive on fuel quality.

Norman Baker: Elements of the Fuel Quality Directive, dealing with the composition of petrol, diesel and non-road gas oil are implemented by the Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations 1999 as amended. These regulations were most recently amended at the end of 2010 to implement amendments made by Directive 2009/30/EC. These included reducing the maximum permissible sulphur content of non-road gas oil, introducing maximum permissible manganese content limits for petrol and diesel and increasing the maximum permissible ethanol content of petrol. These are mandatory requirements which the UK was obliged to transpose by the end of 2010 in order to help reduce air pollution and remove barriers to increased use of biofuels.
	I also refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 7 November 2011, Official Report, column 8WS, which explains our proposals for implementation of article 7a of the Fuel Quality Directive and to my answer given on 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 415W, to the hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr Lewis).

Heathrow Airport

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times operational freedoms at Heathrow airport were deployed in the latest period for which figures are available.

Theresa Villiers: During the period 1 November, when the trial began, and 21 November 2011, Tactically Enhanced Arrivals Measures (TEAM) were deployed on 1, 4, 5, 17 and 18 November as part of the operational freedoms trial. In total, the operational freedoms version of TEAM was used to land 51 aircraft on the runway designated for departures during this period.
	BAA publishes daily data on the use of these measures at the following web address:
	http://heathrowtrial.com

Liverpool Port

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the potential economic effect of the installation of a post-panamax terminal in the Port of Liverpool.

Michael Penning: The ports industry is a market-led commercial sector and the Department does not normally conduct or commission studies of the economic impacts of individual port projects.

Railways

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the existing capacity on the Greater Anglia rail franchise is; and what estimate she has made of the capacity that Abellio will provide under the newly-awarded franchise.

Theresa Villiers: The current operator of the Greater Anglia franchise had planned to deploy 236 (out of a fleet size of 260) four-car electric multiple units (EMUs) in daily service with effect from the December 2011 timetable change. Abellio plans to deliver the same service with 232 (out of a fleet size of 251) units.
	However, the small number of trains that will be reduced in length as a result, are trains on which crowding is unlikely to occur in the foreseeable future.

Railways: Fares

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will consider tightening the provisions of rail franchise agreements to ensure increases in ticket prices result in a corresponding rise in standards of rail service.

Theresa Villiers: The Government's policy is to move towards longer and more flexible franchises. We believe this will allow train operators to drive up the quality of services for passengers.

Rescue Services: Manpower

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes in staffing levels have taken place at each coastguard station since May 2010.

Michael Penning: The following tables show the difference in full-time equivalent (FTE) employed at each Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in May 2010 and October 2011.
	
		
			 FTE 
			 Organisation 1 May 2010 31 October 2011 Change 
			 Aberdeen MRCC 29.00 25.50 -3.50 
			 Belfast MRCC 21.14 21.14 0.00 
			 Brixham MRCC 23.00 20.50 -2.50 
			 Clyde MRCC 28.14 27.57 -0.57 
			 Dover MRCC 31.00 26.00 -5.00 
			 Falmouth MRCC 27.00 25.00 -2.00 
			 Forth MRCC 15.00 14.00 -1.00 
			 Holyhead MRCC 22.00 23.00 1.00 
			 Humber MRCC 27.00 25.00 -2.00 
			 Liverpool MRCC 21.50 20.50 -1.00 
			 London Coastguard 7.00 11.00 4.00 
			 Milford MRCC 24.00 23.00 -1.00 
			 Portland MRCC 25.14 22.14 -3.00 
			 Shetland MRCC 24.14 18.14 -6.00 
			 Solent MRCC 28.65 25.65 -3.00 
			 Stornoway MRCC 21.22 23.15 1.93 
			 Swansea MRCC 27.00 22.00 -5.00 
			 Thames MRCC 22.00 19.00 -3.00 
			 Yarmouth MRCC 23.02 19.78 -3.24 
			 Grand total 446.95 412.07 -34.88

Rescue Services: Manpower

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average number of staff (a) on duty and (b) employed at each coastguard station was in each of the last five years.

Michael Penning: The information is as follows.
	(a) The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) does not hold records of the average number of staff on duty over the last five years. Staffing levels for each watch are evaluated to meet the need that the operational activity demands by each Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). An approximate figure for the whole of Her Majesty's Coastguard for all MRCCs is:
	
		
			  Summer Winter 
			 Day 75 60 
			 Night 60 60 
		
	
	(b) The MCA does not keep average numbers of staff employed at each MRCC, however the numbers of staff employed (full-time equivalent) at each MRCC over the last five years are:
	
		
			  As at 31 October each year 
			 Organisation 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Aberdeen MRCC 30.22 25.00 30.00 29.50 25.50 
			 Belfast MRCC 23.70 21.70 21.14 20.14 21.14 
			 Brixham MRCC 21.57 22.00 22.00 20.00 20.50 
			 Clyde MRCC 31.22 27.57 29.57 27.64 27.57 
			 Dover MRCC 29.14 25.14 31.07 32.50 26.00 
			 Falmouth MRCC 26.68 25.14 27.00 27.00 25.00 
			 Forth MRCC 20.00 20.00 19.00 14.00 14.00 
			 Holyhead MRCC 22.70 ¦22.14 22.00 20.00 23.00 
			 Humber MRCC 29.00 27.00 29.00 28.00 25.00 
			 Liverpool MRCC 21.57 22.57 23.07 21.50 20.50 
			 London Coastguard 5.00 8.00 6.00 6.00 11.00 
			 Milford MRCC 22.14 21.57 21.50 21.00 23.00 
			 Portland MRCC 24.14 23.57 24.14 25.14 22.14 
			 Shetland MRCC 20.70 19.70 19.14 20.14 18.14 
			 Solent MRCC 26.00 27.00 28.86 27.65 25.65 
			 StornowayMRCC 23.65 23.65 20.22 23.22 23.15 
			 Swansea MRCC 28.00 26.00 27.00 26.00 22.00 
			 Thames MRCC 25.07 21.50 23.00 21.00 19.00 
			 Yarmouth MRCC 24.22 21.22 24.22 20.00 19.78 
			 Total 454.69 430.45 447.93 430.43 412.07

Rescue Services: South Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of the closure of Swansea coastguard station on coastguard services around Newport.

Michael Penning: holding answer 14 November 2011
	No individual assessment has been made on the effect on coastguard services around Newport in respect of the proposed closure of Swansea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre.
	The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has assessed the safety risks in relation to HM Coastguard's current operation on a national basis and how these are mitigated by the modernisation proposals. The MCA has also assessed the impact of the modernisation proposals on HM Coastguard's capability to deliver its national service in the future.
	These assessments, as well as a location impact assessment, coastguard centre rationale and supporting tables showing factors taken into consideration in the proposed choice of coastguard centres, are available in the Libraries of the House, and on the MCA's website:
	www.dft.gov.uk/mca
	I refer the hon. Member to my oral statement of 22 November 2011, Official Report, columns 161-64.

Road Traffic

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Highways Agency controlled A-roads see the biggest increase in traffic during the summer.

Michael Penning: At a national level, traffic on the strategic road network, including both motorways and A-roads, tends to follow a consistent annual pattern. Starting from the lowest levels of traffic during December, levels then rise gradually, month on month, to a summer peak during July and August, before slowly declining again through to December.
	Traffic on individual routes, however, is subject to different levels of seasonal change. Comparing the combined traffic levels for the summer months of June, July and August, for 'Highways Agency-controlled A-roads', with the preceding three months of March, April and May, the routes which experienced the greatest percentage increases in vehicle miles travelled (VMT) are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  VMT    
			 Road March to May June to August Increase Percentage increase Rank 
			 A30 296,319,601 359,728,530 63,408,929 21 1 
			 A303 220,000,697 251,898,755 31,898,058 14 2 
			 A120 83,734,035 93,645,820 9,911,784 12 3 
			 A494 10,490,386 11,614,209 1,123,823 11 4 
			 A696 6,389,445 7,057,473 668,028 10 (1)5 
			 A35 76,465,938 84,227,753 7,761,815 10 (1)— 
			 A31 113,486,280 124,709,656 11,223,376 10 (1)— 
			 A458 8,715,964 9,548,557 832,593 10 (1)— 
			 (1) Indicates a brace. 
		
	
	If, however, the ranking is based on actual vehicle miles travelled rather than percentage increases, the pattern is somewhat different:
	
		
			  VMT    
			 Road March to May June to August Increase Percentage increase Rank 
			 A30 296,319,601 359,728,530 63,408,929 21 1 
			 A1 714,657,865 766,531,909 51,874,044 7 2 
			 A303 220,000,697 251,898,755 31,898,058 14 3 
			 A34 301,295,002 328,674,164 27,379,163 9 4 
			 A14 540,486,628 565,139,730 24,653,102 5 5

Roads: Fees and Charges

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of petrol prices on public support for road charging schemes.

Michael Penning: No such assessment has been made. The Government have no plans to introduce general road pricing, other than charging for heavy goods vehicles.

Roads: Housing

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress her Department has made on facilitating the adoption by local authorities of residential roads in new housing developments since June 2010.

Norman Baker: Following discussions with representatives of local authorities and the home building sector, the Department has decided at this stage to encourage local authorities to make best use of the existing powers at their disposal. In particular, we are working to finalise some model planning conditions that could assist local authorities in ensuring that new roads are built to an acceptable standard and that arrangements are put in place for their ongoing maintenance. We also believe there is a role for further guidance and dissemination of good practice on these issues, but this would be a matter for expert practitioners in local authorities to progress in partnership with the home building sector. We will keep matters under review.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department has spent on road repairs following the adverse weather of winter 2010-11; and how much she expects her Department to spend during the 2011-12 winter.

Norman Baker: The then Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), wrote in March to all English local highway authorities to inform them of their share of the additional £200 million announced in the March 2011 Budget. This funding was in recognition of the damage to roads caused by exceptionally severe weather, as December 2010 was the coldest for 100 years. The breakdown of funding allocation by local authority can be found at:
	https://nds.coi.gov.uk/ImageLibrary/DownloadMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=3444
	The Department is also providing £3 billion over the four years from 2011-12 to local highway authorities in England for roads for which they are responsible, as well as providing resource funding of £6 million for a programme to assist local authorities to deliver their highways maintenance more effectively and efficiently.
	It should not be assumed that the Department will be in a position to provide additional funding following any future severe weather event. It remains the responsibility of local highway authorities to prioritise their overall resources and build in appropriate resilience as part of their overall maintenance programmes.
	As regards roads controlled by the Highways Agency, the agency has a comprehensive road surfacing programme to assist in the reduction of damage to the strategic road network caused by adverse winter weather. However, the agency does not separately identify or estimate the maintenance costs directly associated with winter damage.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to assist motorists in preparation for winter weather.

Norman Baker: Local highway authorities have a duty under section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the local highways network in their area. In relation to snow, a local authority's section 41 duty includes the requirement
	“to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice”.
	Central Government have no powers to intervene in these matters in relation to local authority roads—winter service planning and salt stock supplies are the responsibility of the respective highway authorities. The Department is working closely with the local highways sector on ensuring that local highway authorities are prepared for any severe winter weather.
	In respect of the Highways Agency, as a result of lessons learned and continuous improvement over a number of seasons, the agency has developed a robust winter service to assist motorists in the event of severe winter weather.
	This includes: a fleet of 500 state of the art winter vehicles on stand-by, supported by tried and tested winter resilience plans; an adequate supply of operational and strategic salt stock in place at the start of the season; a Freight Snow Warning System in place to help the road haulage industry and drivers of goods and high-sided vehicles respond to warnings of severe weather or snow; an improved strategic incident management (Crisis Management Procedure) system that has been developed and implemented.
	The Highways Agency has also improved its winter communications to provide traffic advice to motorists, including: greater adoption and wider use of Variable Messaging Signs to help manage the strategic road network by providing advanced warning to drivers of emergencies and incidents; the use social media sites to advise motorists of any major traffic incidents; undertaking an extensive stakeholder engagement programme.
	The agency has also published advice to road users this winter, in a series of information notes under the theme, “Make time for winter”. These notes can be found online at:
	www.highways.gov.uk/winter

Rolling Stock

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when she expects private finance arrangements for (a) the Intercity Express Programme and (b) Thameslink rolling stock to be completed;
	(2)  when she expects to sign the Intercity Express Programme rolling stock contract.

Theresa Villiers: Both the Intercity Express Programme and Thameslink rolling stock contracts are targeted to reach financial close in the new year. Private financing of the deals will continue to be arranged up until the contracts are signed.

Shipping: Safety

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons her Department considers that the responsibility for ensuring operational safety of ships is a matter for which the commercial shipping industry should be wholly responsible.

Michael Penning: The international conventions for the Safety of Life at Sea provide that vessel operators must ensure the operational safety of their vessels through the application of a Safety Management System, in accordance with the International Safety Management Code. Among other things this requires companies to operate their ships in accordance with mandatory rules and regulations and in such a way that prevents human injuries or loss of life, and avoids damage to the marine environment.
	The responsibility of Government is to ensure that companies arrange their activities in compliance with the Code.

Shipping: Security

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will issue guidance to maritime insurers and ship owners on the provision of private on-board security.

Michael Penning: Yes, the Department for Transport is finalising interim guidance to UK flagged shipping on the use of armed guards to defend against the threat of piracy in exceptional circumstances. I expect this to be published by the end of November.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department holds on when the Thameslink rolling stock carriages will be available for testing.

Theresa Villiers: The Department is currently conducting commercial negotiations with Siemens plc and Cross London Trains, and the precise timescales for the testing and delivery of carriages are being finalised as part of this process.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Thameslink rolling stock carriages she plans to introduce in each year up to December 2018.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given on 3 October 2011, Official Report, column 1393W.

Tugboats

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she plans to take to ensure that (a) vessels in distress will be assisted, (b) pollution will be countered and (c) fires at sea will be tackled in British territorial waters after the removal of emergency towing vessels.

Michael Penning: The national response to vessels that get into distress for any reason, including fire, and maritime counter pollution will continue to be co-ordinated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency acting through Her Majesty's Coastguard.
	Additionally, Her Majesty's Coastguard has long-standing arrangements with ports, harbours and tug brokers for the supply of tugs in an emergency situation using the Coastguard Agreement for Salvage and Towing (CAST).

Tugboats

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations she has received from the Emergency Towing Vessel Working Group; and what steps she is taking to implement its funding recommendations.

Michael Penning: The Shipping Minister met with representatives of the Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) Working Group in Inverness on 25 July 2011. The purpose of the meeting was to hear from the Group about the progress it had made to identify the means to fund ETV provision, without any recourse to central Government funding, for those areas where local people perceived the existence of a local problem. If the Group had been able to offer a reasonably certain prospect of secure funding, then my Department would have considered a short extension to the ETV provision in order to allow the group some time to finalise their local arrangements.
	In the event the Group was not able to demonstrate that it had been able to identify any means of local funding and so was unable to make any recommendations that were sufficient to satisfy me that the ETV provision should be extended in any of the four locations.
	Since 1 October 2011, the Scotland Office has been responsible for leading efforts to secure a long-term replacement for the Emergency Towing Vessels (ETV) service in waters around Scotland surrounding the Northern and Western Isles.

WALES

Airports: Weather Conditions

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether her Department has made an assessment of the preparedness of Welsh airport operators for extreme winter conditions.

David Jones: I will be meeting with the managing director of Cardiff airport today and will be discussing a number of issues including their preparedness for extreme winter conditions and the lessons learned from last winter's severe weather. I will be seeking assurance that the airport will be able to respond appropriately to any future events of a similar nature, taking into account operational and safety factors. The Civil Aviation Authority is monitoring all airport operators' progress in improving their resilience.
	It is of course a matter for the Welsh Government to ensure that appropriate plans are in place to keep the transport routes leading to the airport functioning.

Social Services: Cross-border Co-operation

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with Ministers in the Welsh Government on cross-border issues relating to social care.

David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I have regular discussions with Ministers in the Welsh Government and ministerial colleagues in Government about the future of social care provision.
	The Department of Health will be publishing a White Paper on wider social care issues next spring alongside a progress report on funding reform. The Government are committed to working constructively with the Welsh Government on any implications for delivery of care and support in Wales.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Bombings: Omagh

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to determine whether an inquiry into the Omagh bombing is to be held.

Owen Paterson: I met the Omagh Support and Self Help Group (OSSHG) last September. I also met family members who are against the establishment of a public inquiry. I have made it clear to all the families that I am open to receiving any representations from them on the issue. The OSSHG have recently advised me that they wish to submit further representations on this matter and have asked me to refrain from making any decision on the issue until these have been received.

Broadband

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport about 3G mobile broadband coverage in Northern Ireland;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with mobile network operators about 3G mobile broadband coverage in Northern Ireland;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport about the amount of money that will be allocated to Northern Ireland from the £150 million of funding to improve mobile coverage.

Hugo Swire: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), and I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues on issues affecting Northern Ireland, including mobile coverage. I have met with the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey), to discuss this matter on several occasions and I am a member of the cross-Government Ministerial Group on Broadband which ensures that we take a joined-up approach to the delivery of the coalition Government's broadband policy and projects. I have also discussed this matter with the Department for Enterprise and Investment Minister Arlene Foster.
	Contacts with commercial telecoms providers are taken forward by DCMS or the Northern Ireland Executive as appropriate as they have the lead in such matters.
	The allocation of the £150 million announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), to increase mobile coverage will be discussed at future meetings of the cross-Government Ministerial Group on Broadband. DCMS have yet to determine the methodology which will be used to distribute these funds and are still in very preliminary discussions with Ofcom.

Maghaberry Prison: Standards

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Justice Minister in Northern Ireland about conditions in Maghaberry Prison; and if he will make a statement.

Owen Paterson: I meet the Northern Ireland Justice Minister on a frequent basis to discuss a range of matters relating to security. Matters relating to the management of prisons in Northern Ireland, however, are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Justice Minister and the Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

Patrick Finucane

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Irish Government and (b) the Finucane family since his decision not to hold an inquiry into the death of Pat Finucane.

Owen Paterson: Since my announcement to the House on 12 October 2011, Official Report, columns 335-37, I have had discussions with An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and other representatives of the Irish Government regarding my decision to establish an independent review into the murder of Patrick Finucane. The Government have had no further contact with the Finucane family since their meeting with the Prime Minister and me on 11 October. I understand from the press release made by the Pat Finucane review on 10 November that they have recently written to the Finucane family seeking a meeting with them at the earliest opportunity. I remain hopeful that the family will co-operate with the review.

Politics and Government

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will establish all-party talks in Northern Ireland to discuss how to deal with the past.

Owen Paterson: The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) and I have been consulting widely on how best to learn from the past in Northern Ireland. The Government will play their role in this process but remain convinced that progress will only be possible when consensus is achieved by those within Northern Ireland who have an interest. I plan to meet representatives of each of the Assembly parties in the coming weeks to seek their views on moving forward.

Politics and Government

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent steps he has taken in respect of (a) the past and (b) legacy issues in Northern Ireland.

Owen Paterson: The Government continue to play their part in dealing with issues relating to the past and in resolving outstanding legacy issues. The reports of three of four public inquiries were published in full in each case the day after I received the report (the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in June 2010, the Billy Wright Inquiry in September 2010 and the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry in May 2011). The Robert Hamill Inquiry report is to be published as soon as practicable, once related ongoing criminal proceedings have concluded. Sir Desmond de Silva's Review concerning the murder of Patrick Finucane is well under way. The Government have, where appropriate, apologised for past actions. The Prime Minister apologised to the Bloody Sunday families and, more recently, to the family of Patrick Finucane. The Government also published a summary of the responses to the previous Government's consultation on the recommendations of the Consultative Group on the Past from which it was clear that there is no consensus on the best way forward.
	It is also important to recognise the wide range of work, and investigative matters, that are being taken forward in Northern Ireland, including the work of the Police Ombudsman's Office, the Historical Enquiries Team and the Victims Commissioners.
	The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) and I have been carrying out a listening exercise, meeting a wide range of political parties, community organisations, academics and victims' groups to hear their views on how best to learn from the past. As is clear from the steps already taken, the Government are ready to make their own contribution on this matter but they do not “own” the past and cannot impose solutions; all those with an interest in Northern Ireland have a part to play.

Public Finance

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about measures in the 2011 Pre-Budget Report to tackle (a) adult and (b)  youth unemployment in Northern Ireland;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 2011 Pre Budget Report with respect to Northern Ireland; and on what dates such discussions took place.

Owen Paterson: As part of the coalition Government's plan to rebalance the Northern Ireland economy I have regular discussions on a range of economic matters with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), and other Treasury Ministers. However, specific measures to tackle both adult and youth unemployment are primarily devolved matters which are the responsibility of the relevant Northern Ireland Executive Ministers.

Social Security Benefits

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effects of his welfare reform proposals in Northern Ireland.

Owen Paterson: I discuss these matters regularly with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), and I have met the Minister for Welfare Reform, my noble Friend the Lord Freud, on a number of occasions, both in Northern Ireland and London to discuss the implications of the welfare reform agenda for Northern Ireland. My noble Friend has visited Northern Ireland twice to discuss this agenda with Northern Ireland Ministers and plans to visit again.

Terrorism

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many offences categorised as terrorist-related there have been in Northern Ireland (a) in the most recent period for which figures are available and (b) in each of the last 10 years.

Owen Paterson: The number of persons charged with offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 in the financial year 2010-11 was 19.
	The figures for each of the last nine calendar years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2001 17 
			 2002 38 
			 2003 62 
			 2004 26 
			 2005 28 
			 2006 28 
			 2007 16 
			 2008 6 
			 2009(1) 15 
			 (1) In 2009 statistical reporting arrangements changed from calendar year to financial year, therefore the 2009 figure also includes the first three months of 2010. 
		
	
	These figures relate to the number of charges under the Terrorism Act, however, charges relating to terrorist activity may also be brought under other legislation. It is not possible to identify those charges which have been made under other legislation that relate to terrorist activity.

TREASURY

Air Passenger Duty

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of an increase in the levels of air passenger duty on (a) businesses and (b) the economy;
	(2)  if he will assess the proposal by the British Chambers of Commerce that overall tax revenues from air passenger duty should be offset against revenues arising from the entry of aviation into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme in 2012.

Chloe Smith: The Government launched a consultation on air passenger duty at Budget. A large number of responses to the consultation were submitted, including the views of business. The Government will publish their response shortly.
	Air passenger duty is fundamentally a revenue-raising duty which makes an important contribution to the public finances. In meeting their revenue requirements, the Government consider aviation taxes in the round.

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residents of Ashfield constituency paid 50p income tax rate in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Gauke: An estimated 308,000 taxpayers are liable to income tax at the 50% additional rate in the United Kingdom in 2011-12. In the east midlands, which contains the Ashfield constituency the estimate is 12,000. These and estimates for other UK Government office regions are published on the HMRC website in tables 2.1 and 2.2 which are available at the following addresses;
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-1.pdf
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-2.pdf
	Reliable estimates are not available at the parliamentary constituency level, due to greater uncertainties in projections for small geographical areas and small sample sizes.
	These estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2011 economic and fiscal outlook.

Tax Collection

Martin Horwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters have been issued in error by HM Revenue and Customs in the last two months for which information is available.

David Gauke: HMRC does not hold the information requested and it is available only at disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit: Disability

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes that current levels of financial support to low income and out of work families with disabled children through the disability addition will be retained when Universal Credit is introduced.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	Under Universal Credit the cash additions for families with disabled children and the cash additions for adults will be aligned, with the lower rate at £26.75 and the upper rate at around £77 per week. The Government will also extend eligibility for the higher rate to children who are registered blind who currently only qualify for the disabled child element in Child Tax Credit (those registered or certified as blind).
	Increases in the higher addition will be phased in from 2013 as savings from simplification are realised. During this phasing-in period we will ensure that severely disabled children do not receive less than they would be under the Child Tax Credit equivalent amount. As this is more than the current equivalent higher addition for adults, the higher adult and child rates may not be in alignment until this phasing-in period is complete.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ministers' Private Offices: Expenditure

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) transaction date, (b) supplier and (c) amount was of each transaction made on corporate cards held by the private office of the Secretary of State in his Department between 6 October 2003 and 28 June 2007.

Alan Duncan: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Martial Arts

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which martial arts organisations have received grants from his Department in each of the last 10 years; and how much each such grant was.

Hugh Robertson: Sport England invests national lottery and Exchequer funding in community sport.
	The amount of lottery and Exchequer funding awarded to martial arts organisations can be found in the following tables. Sport England does not hold details of Exchequer funding prior to 2002-03.
	
		
			 Lottery 
			 Financial year Total (£) 
			 2001-02 1,421,612 
			 2002-03 1,495,315 
			 2003-04 4,366,854 
			 2004-05 587,290 
			 2005-06 4,404,279 
		
	
	
		
			 2006-07 930,000 
			 2007-08 1,742,788 
			 2008-09 500,000 
			 2009-10 8,820,514 
			 2010-11 796,750 
			 Total 25,065,402 
		
	
	
		
			 Exchequer 
			 Financial year Total (£) 
			 2002-03 125,000 
			 2003-04 125,000 
			 2004-05 254,535 
			 2005-06 826,496 
			 2006-07 1,826,725 
			 2007-08 288,433 
			 2008-09 942,615 
			 2009-10 621,551 
			 2010-11 826,037 
			 Total 5,836,392

Aerials

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects to provide information on how the £150 million mobile phone mast fund will be allocated.

Edward Vaizey: The mobile project is currently in the definition stage and expects to commence procurement in 2012. The allocation of funds will be dependent upon the delivery model and procurement route to be followed. It is expected that an outline allocation will be clear by the early stages of any procurement approach with final allocations confirmed in later stages. It is expected that any contract(s) will be awarded for delivery of services to commence in 2013.

Horse Racing: Betting

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to issue details of his Department's consultation on the future of the horse racing levy.

John Penrose: I am currently in discussions with representatives of racing and bookmakers on the options for the future of the levy that are fair, commercial, sustainable, enforceable and remove Government from the process. We have made a promising start but it is still early days and I am cautious about moving to a public consultation until these discussions have produced an outline which is acceptable to both sides. Everybody wants to reach a solution swiftly but whether we do will depend on how quickly the racing and gambling industries can agree.

PRIME MINISTER

Official Photographs

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Prime Minister how many official photographs have been taken of (a) him and (b) senior officials for use in Government publications since May 2010; how many of his staff are expected to undertake photography of the ministerial and senior leadership team as part of their duties; and if he will make a statement.

David Cameron: Official photographs are published on the No. 10 website
	http://www.number10.gov.uk
	and on the No. 10 flickr stream
	http://www.flickr.com/photos/number10gov
	They are indicated with a 'Crown Copyright' inscription.

Northern Ireland Government

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  when he last met the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (a) separately and (b) together;
	(2)  what plans he has to invite the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland to No. 10 Downing Street for discussions.

David Cameron: I met the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland at Stormont Castle on 9 June 2011. I and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), are in regular communication with them.

Supermarkets

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Prime Minister what meetings he has had with representatives of (a) Asda, (b) Tesco and (c) Sainsbury's since June 2010.

David Cameron: A list of my official meetings with external organisations is available on the Cabinet Office website
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations

CABINET OFFICE

Community Organisers

Liam Byrne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what funding he proposes to allocate for community organisers in (a) Birmingham, (b) Newcastle, (c) Wakefield, (d) Manchester, (e) Leeds, (f) Liverpool, (g) Coventry, (h) Bristol, (i) Sheffield, (j) Bradford, (k) Leicester and (l) Nottingham in each of the next three years.

Nick Hurd: The Government have appointed Locality to deliver the Community Organisers programme at arm’s length from Government. Locality believes that Community Organisers need to be hosted within a local organisation which can help the Community Organiser make the essential links with the local people, other voluntary organisations, businesses and the local authority. These organisations also provide mentoring, advice, peer support and desk space. Over the four-year period, Locality expects to recruit between 100-200 local organisations across England to host Community Organisers. Recruitment of host organisations is based on a set of criteria, including a focus on areas of significant deprivation and the ability of the organisation to host and sustain between two and five Community Organisers each. Recruitment of Community Organisers is undertaken locally by host organisations.
	There are currently 22 local organisations taking part in the programme, with more being recruited regularly. The programme aims to reach a good geographical coverage by the end of the four years. As the process of recruiting locally rooted host organisations is an open application process, it is not possible to pre-determine which areas will benefit over the next three years. However, I can confirm that there are host organisations in the following areas: Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Sheffield, Bradford, and Leicester.
	Further details of the programme are available at:
	www.cocollaborative.org.uk

Adam Werritty

Michael Dugher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Mr Adam Werritty on official business since May 2010; and how many such meetings took place (i) on his Department's premises and (ii) elsewhere.

Francis Maude: Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations
	There is no record of Cabinet Office Ministers or special advisers meeting with Mr Werritty. One Cabinet Office official met Mr Werritty on two occasions away from departmental premises as part of the Cabinet Secretary's review into allegations relating to the former Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox).

British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries

Martin Horwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his estimate is of the number of British nationals who had a vacation in each other EU member state in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011
	As Director General of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question asking what the estimate is of the number of British nationals who had a vacation in each other EU member state in each of the last 10 years.
	The estimated number of holiday visits to each of the current member states made by UK nationals who are resident in the UK are shown in Table 1. These estimates are drawn from the International Passenger Survey. For each country the estimate is the number of relevant visits abroad on which the reported country is the main destination.
	
		
			 Table 1: Holiday visits abroad by UK nationals who are resident in the UK. Presented in terms of main country visited on each visit 
			 Visits (thousand) 
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Austria 382 541 415 579 543 492 482 576 517 440 
			 Belgium 736 746 832 707 784 840 923 831 652 628 
			 Bulgaria 89 121 130 244 316 208 231 265 162 143 
			 Czech Republic 191 249 398 507 585 528 384 309 217 179 
			 Cyprus 1,336 1,155 1,105 1,093 1,227 1,063 1,066 1,063 800 752 
			 Denmark 73 66 68 86 65 73 71 67 61 61 
			 Estonia 7 7 16 27 40 44 46 22 9 11 
			 Finland 47 45 65 77 56 83 110 88 62 41 
			 France 6,637 7,116 6,992 6,949 6,847 6,666 7,050 7,013 6,497 5,854 
			 Germany 497 538 422 575 679 646 761 739 565 589 
			 Greece 2,954 2,689 2,641 2,398 2,179 2,175 2,214 1,840 1,607 1,447 
			 Hungary 46 41 55 102 164 126 106 113 77 84 
			 Irish Republic 1,130 1,245 1,113 1,177 1,230 1,301 1,053 1,008 765 554 
			 Italy 1,491 1,653 1,850 1,917 2,178 2,240 2,313 2,176 1,611 1,398 
			 Latvia 3 3 4 7 26 46 44 28 9 20 
			 Lithuania 1 5 4 11 5 16 13 6 6 5 
			 Luxembourg 13 13 13 11 14 9 14 15 9 24 
			 Malta 398 392 413 431 470 425 400 418 303 350 
			 Netherlands 948 1,038 1,000 1,045 1,012 1,100 995 875 769 727 
			 Poland 43 28 45 72 111 215 251 244 197 170 
			 Portugal 1,331 1,527 1,581 1,446 1,507 1,582 1,802 2,109 1,491 1,517 
			 Romania 3 6 12 13 17 12 15 19 19 13 
			 Slovakia 5 6 4 7 25 41 24 26 11 13 
			 Slovenia 15 24 16 39 47 55 44 54 20 31 
			 Spain 10,557 11,129 12,022 11,916 11,806 12,293 11,688 11,694 9,829 8,919 
			 Sweden 78 75 65 59 55 72 82 112 52 67

British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries

Martin Horwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many British nationals worked in each other EU member state in each of the last 10 years, for part or all of that year; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many British nationals have been employed in other EU member states over the last ten years. The requested information is available in the following table (82500).
	The data comes from the Labour Force Survey and is transmitted on a voluntary basis by the EU Member States to Eurostat (the European Union's statistical office). As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			 Employment by citizenship: UK citizens (aged 15 to 64) working in other EU27 member states 
			 Persons (thousand) 
			 Country 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Belgium 8.5 13.0 14.0 7.2 11.7 10.8 10.5 9.5 9.6 11.3 10.0 
			 Bulgaria — — — — — 0.1 0.3 — 0.1 — — 
			 Czech Republic — — 0.5 0.4 1.3 0.7 1.0 0.6 0.9 1.9 1.7 
			 Denmark 6.1 6.5 6.8 9.7 6.3 5.9 6.4 6.1 7.3 9.9 8.1 
			 Germany 72.4 68.7 58.2 74.2 68.8 55.4 64.6 62.1 62.1 56.7 58.4 
			 Estonia — — — — — 0.2 0.1 — 0.3 0.1 — 
			 Ireland 31.7 37.6 38.0 42.0 39.6 — 51.6 41.4 54.8 47.8 37.6 
			 Greece 1.6 2.3 1.4 3.4 2.7 3.1 2.9 2.5 2.8 2.0 2.4 
			 Spain 28.0 39.5 41.9 30.4 37.4 50.7 54.5 55.7 51.0 54.5 62.2 
			 France 29.0 28.2 34.4 18.1 24.3 28.2 27.7 25.9 33.7 37.4 47.5 
			 Italy — — — — — 10.8 10.9 6.6 9.3 11.4 n/a 
			 Cyprus 5.4 3.8 2.8 3.2 3.5 3.9 4.8 5.0 5.7 5.0 5.4 
			 Latvia — — — — — — 0.3 — — — — 
			 Lithuania — — — — 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.3 — — 0.1 
			 Luxembourg 2.0 1.5 1.9 1.9 2.1 2.5 2.7 2.6 2.7 3.2 4.5 
			 Hungary — 1.0 — 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.4 0.5 
			 Malta 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.1 0.9 0.9 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.3 1.4 
			 Netherlands 34.5 32.9 30.0 31.6 24.2 22.8 22.7 26.1 26.2 24.3 n/a 
		
	
	
		
			 Austria 1.8 3.1 1.8 5.0 3.8 4.2 3.6 3.9 3.6 3.9 4.9 
			 Poland — — — — — 0.3 0.5 1.9 1.2 0.6 0.2 
			 Portugal 0.6 1.7 3.0 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.5 1.5 3.3 4.1 1.6 
			 Rumania — — — — — — — — — 0.4 0.6 
			 Slovenia — — — — — — — — — 0.0 0.0 
			 Slovakia — — — — — — — — — 0.4 0.6 
			 Finland 0.7 1.4 1.3 0.4 1.1 0.6 1.3 1.8 1.5 0.9 1.4 
			 Sweden 8.8 9.3 7.3 8.2 9.0 9.3 9.5 8.3 8.3 10.0 10.6

Civil Servants: British Nationality

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of posts in the civil service have full UK citizenship as a requirement of employment.

Francis Maude: holding answer 14 November 2011
	Eligibility for employment in the civil service is governed by legislative requirements as to nationality. Although the civil service endeavours to open up as many posts as possible to the range of nationals eligible for employment, a number will be reserved for UK nationals. Given these posts will deal with the most sensitive information relating to national security and the interests of the UK the reserving of such posts is a reasonable action.
	The criteria by which posts can be designated as reserved is set out in the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 with Departments and agencies responsible for considering whether or not a post requires reserving for UK nationals only. Unless a post satisfies the criteria, it cannot be reserved.

Civil Servants: Pensions

Mary Glindon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how much funding from the (a) public purse and (b) private sector has been allocated to the mutualisation of MyCSP;
	(2)  how much funding from (a) the public purse and (b) the private sector has been allocated to the mutualisation of MyCSP.

Francis Maude: The work to transform the management and administration of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme has been under way for some time and has included the creation of MyCSP and now its mutualisation.
	While MyCSP is part of government, its transformation is provisioned by Cabinet Office and subject to an approved business case. A competition is currently under way to select a private sector partner to contribute to this mutualisation and transformation through share participation in the MyCSP mutual joint venture. As this process is under way at the moment it would be inappropriate to make any further statement at this time.

McKinsey and Company

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many (a) secondees and (b) consultants from McKinsey and Company are being paid by (i) his Department and (ii) McKinsey and Company;
	(2)  how many employees of McKinsey and Company are working in his Department; and what role each such person has in his Department;
	(3)  if he will publish the names of people employed by McKinsey and Company who (a) are working in his Department and (b) have been seconded to his Department since 6 May 2010.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office has one person employed by McKinsey and Company. Mr Tim Kelsey leads on the Transparency agenda and is being paid for by the Cabinet Office at the equivalent rate of a director.
	This is part of the Cabinet Office's strategy to bring in expertise from commercial and third sector organisations and the wider public sector but at civil service rates of pay, rather than consultancy rates.
	McKinsey and Company have not seconded any other employees to the Cabinet Office since 6 May 2010.

Voluntary Sector

Steve Brine: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Dumfries and Galloway of 2 November 2011, Official Report, column 907, on the voluntary sector, when he plans to announce further details of the special funding for advice centres.

Nick Hurd: The £16.8 million Advice Services Fund for England was announced on 21 November 2011. The fund will provide immediate support for not-for-profit providers of free advice services in England. The fund will be administered by the Big Fund, the non-lottery arm of the Big Lottery Fund and will be open for applications by the end of November.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Graham Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many organisations in (a) Lancashire and (b) Hyndburn constituency are involved in National Citizen Service pilot schemes.

Nick Hurd: The Cabinet Office has announced 29 providers to deliver 2012 pilots. In Lancashire, three organisations have been selected as lead providers—Catch22, The Challenge Network and Fylde Coast YMCA.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Graham Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what arrangements are in place to ensure that the distribution funding for organisations providing National Citizen Service programmes (a) takes place on a fair geographical basis and (b) takes account of social inclusion.

Nick Hurd: Providers were selected after a two-stage bidding process that was fully open and competitive. In commissioning places for the 2012 pilots the Cabinet Office looked closely at where providers were able to deliver places and pilots will take place in 95% of upper tier local authority areas in England in 2012. Pilot providers were partly chosen on the strength of their proposals to recruit the broadest range of young people to participate.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Graham Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many young people from (a) Lancashire and (b) Hyndburn constituency he expects to be involved in the National Citizen Service in each of the next four years.

Nick Hurd: The Cabinet Office is committed to providing 30,000 NCS places across the country in 2012. Pilots will take place in 95% of upper tier local authority areas in 2012, and providers were partly chosen on the strength of their proposals to recruit the broadest range of young people to participate. The Prime Minister has announced that there will be 90,000 places for young people in 2014 with an ambition to make NCS universally available to all 16-year-olds in future.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Graham Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the budget for the National Citizen Service will be allocated on a regional basis; and what funding he expects to allocate to organisations in (a) Lancashire and (b) Hyndburn constituency.

Nick Hurd: The budget for the 2012 pilots is held by the Cabinet Office and is allocated to providers after an open competition which takes account of their ability to deliver and their plans to recruit a broad range of young people. The Cabinet Office has announced 29 providers to deliver the 2012 pilots.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Geraint Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much was spent on (a) print and broadcast advertising, (b) launch costs and (c) promotional material for the 2011 pilot National Citizen Service in 2010-11.

Nick Hurd: In line with the current Government freeze on marketing and advertising, there was no central Government budget allocated to marketing and advertising, launch costs and promotional materials for the 2011 pilot of National Citizen Service.
	Any costs for print or broadcast advertising, launch costs or promotional material for the 2011 pilot of National Citizen Service in 2010-11 were met by the 12 provider organisations who delivered the pilot.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Geraint Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the effect of charging for National Citizen Service places on the take-up of places by children from low-income backgrounds in 2011.

Nick Hurd: During the 2011 pilot of National Citizen Service, some pilot providers requested small contributions or deposits from participants. Many providers supported participants to fundraise this amount. All National Citizen Service pilots included bursaries or support schemes to ensure that young people/families without the means to contribute were able to participate.
	The independent evaluation of the first National Citizen Service pilot by NatCen is currently examining a range of factors impacting on recruitment, including the effects of charging for National Citizen Service places. Findings will be made available in due course.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Geraint Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to ask local authorities to contribute to the cost of National Citizen Service places in their areas.

Nick Hurd: The National Citizen Service pilots in 2011 and 2012 are aiming to test a variety of cost and delivery models. Provider organisations have been tasked to develop and outline innovative ways of building a broad coalition of support from across the community to help with the delivery of National Citizen Service, including local authorities.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Tax Benefits

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what modelling his Department undertook of changes in council tax benefit for those in employment of (a) the localisation of this benefit and (b) a 10 per cent. reduction in available funding.

Bob Neill: The Department's modelling of changes in council tax benefit for those in employment of (a) the localisation of this benefit and (b) a 10% reduction in available funding will be included in the impact assessment to be published alongside the legislation providing for the localisation of council tax support in England.

Council Tax Benefits

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions on the alignment of localised council tax benefit with universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from the Department for Work and Pensions to discuss a range of matters.

Councillors: Leave

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the amount of paid time off work for the conduct of public duties given to employees of local authorities who are also councillors in the last year for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: We have made no such estimate.

Empty Property

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to encourage local authorities to bring empty properties back into use.

Grant Shapps: The Government published “Laying the Foundations—A Housing Strategy for England” on 21 November which sets out our plans for dealing with empty homes.
	Through the affordable homes programme we have committed £100 million to bring empty homes back into use as affordable housing. We are making sure that community and self help groups have an opportunity to access this funding and take on this work alongside conventional housing providers. Detailed bidding guidance is available on the Homes and Communities Agency's website:
	www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/ourwork/empty-homes
	We have announced £50 million of additional funding to tackle some of the worst concentrations of empty homes. Tackling empty homes in these areas will require an intensive approach—refurbishing and reconfiguring homes, as well as improving the public realm and tackling wider issues in the local area.
	We are consulting on technical reforms to council tax, including on proposals to give councils the flexibility to reduce or remove council tax relief on empty homes, and second homes. These reforms could allow councils to make up to a £20 a year reduction in the bill for a typical Band D property in England. The consultation also explores the proposition that councils should have local discretion to introduce a council tax premium on homes that have been empty for more than two years. All these measures would provide an additional fiscal incentive for owners to bring empty homes into use more quickly.
	Under the New Homes Bonus local authorities can receive the same financial reward for bringing an empty home back into use as building a new one—so over £8,500 for a band D property. In year one of the New Homes Bonus just under 16,000 long term empty homes were brought back into use. This equates to a reward to local authorities of around £19 million.
	The new Community Right to Reclaim Land will also assist communities to bring empty properties owned by public bodies back into use.

Empty Property: Retail Trade

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether local authorities are empowered to compulsorily purchase individual retail units which have been empty in order to bring them back into use; and under what authority.

Bob Neill: If a local authority has a scheme for any land, it may acquire that land by agreement. If that is not possible, authorities have a number of powers to acquire land compulsorily, provided they can demonstrate to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), a compelling case in the public interest. It is for the authority concerned to choose the appropriate power, but the powers under section 226(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 are frequently used to acquire land in town centre schemes.

Growing Places Fund

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether Ministers in his Department made public mention of (a) the Growing Places Fund, (b) the money which was subsequently to be allocated to the Growing Places Fund and (c) the stated intention of the Growing Places Fund prior to the official announcement of the policy on 7 November 2011.

Grant Shapps: On 18 September, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), announced plans to establish a new £500 million Growing Places Fund to support local infrastructure projects which unlock housing and economic growth.
	I refer the right hon. Member to the statement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 12 October 2011, Official Report, column 445 and to the answer by the Minister of State for Decentralisation and Cities, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark), of 25 October 2011, Official Report, column 124W.
	The announcement of 7 November 2011 was the publication of the Fund's prospectus and the indicative allocations to individual Local Enterprise Partnerships.

Housing: Construction

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2011, Official Report, columns 567-8W, on housing: construction, what progress the Planning Inspectorate has made in developing and publishing a model condition which local planning authorities can use where they need to require that any residential roads proposed as part of a housing development are built to adoptable standards.

Bob Neill: Draft model planning conditions have been prepared as a basis for discussion about the approaches which local planning authorities can use where they need to require that residential roads proposed as part of a housing development are built to adoptable standards. Legal and technical consultation is under way but must be completed before these can be used.

Housing: Finance

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the receipts from local authority housing sales he expects will go to local authorities to help them build new houses.

Andrew Stunell: The Government will consult shortly on how receipts arising from additional homes sold under the right to buy will be used to fund new affordable homes.

Local Government: Pensions

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) 90%, (b) 80%, (c) 70% and (d) 60% employee participation rates on Local Government Pension Scheme funds.

Bob Neill: No assessment of this kind has been made yet. The level of employee participation and its impact on scheme income is one of the factors to be taken into account by scheme actuaries when funds are next valued in 2013. Access to scheme membership is automatic for eligible employees. Employers and pension fund administering authorities have a role in explaining the available benefits and their guaranteed status.

Mayors: Referendums

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who is responsible for monitoring donations for mayoral referendums.

Bob Neill: The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2007, which specify the rules for conducting local governance referendums, including referendums on having a directly elected mayor, set an expense limit for campaign expenditure at local governance referendums. While there are no statutory arrangements for monitoring compliance with these provisions, exceeding this limit constitutes a criminal offence.
	The 2007 Regulations will be replaced by new regulations following the enactment of the Localism Act 2011; it is intended that these will replicate the existing provisions on expense limits.
	Where a registered political party or a regulated donee are participants in a mayoral referendum, the requirements of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in respect of donations to parties or regulated donees will apply.

Planning Permission

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether private sector organisations are entitled to present local and neighbourhood plans.

Greg Clark: Only local planning authorities can bring forward local plans. Neighbourhood plans can be brought forward by a parish or town council or a designated neighbourhood forum. Neighbourhood forums must be open to all those living or working in the neighbourhood area.
	Where a local council designates a neighbourhood as a business area, non-domestic rate payers will also be allowed to vote in the referendum at the end of the neighbourhood planning process. Business areas for neighbourhood planning will be areas which are wholly or predominantly business in nature.
	A local authority will be required to put a neighbourhood plan into force where a majority of both voting residents and business rate payers support the plan in the referendum.

Planning Permission: Norfolk

George Freeman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which representatives of local authorities in Norfolk he has met in the last two months to discuss the provisions of the Localism Bill relating to planning reform; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: Details of DCLG Ministers meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyingovernment/ministerialdata/

Social Services: Finance

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the likely effect of the Local Government Resource Review on social care.

Bob Neill: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), has regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a range of issues.

TaxPayers' Alliance

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many meetings (a) officials and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with the TaxPayers' Alliance in the last 12 months for which information is available.

Bob Neill: Details of ministerial and the permanent secretary's meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyingovernment/ministerialdata/
	Details of other officials' meetings are not held centrally and it would entail disproportionate cost to assemble the information.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Business: Regulation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2011, Official Report, column 802W, on regulation, which sectors other than retail and hospitality have been examined by the Red Tape Challenge.

Mark Prisk: As of 22 November 2011 10 further themes have been in the ‘spotlight’ on the Red Tape Challenge website. These are: Road Transportation, Equalities, Enforcement, Health and Safety, Manufacturing, Environment, Employment-related Law, Children's Services, Rail and Maritime Transport and Disruptive Business Models. In addition, Pensions and Company and Commercial Law have been open for comment since the website went live. Details of all previous and upcoming themes can be found on the website at:
	www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Business: Regulation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many of the regulations relating to the retail and hospitality sectors examined by the Red Tape Challenge have been removed.

Mark Prisk: The outcomes of the Retail and Hospitality, Food and Drink Red Tape Challenge themes were announced in July and September respectively. We are currently following the appropriate legislative and parliamentary processes to implement these changes.

Businesses: Ex-servicemen

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people have applied to the Be the Boss scheme for ex-service personnel.

Mark Prisk: 1,786 ex-service personnel have applied to join the scheme since the Royal British Legion launched the Be the Boss Scheme in June 2010. On 17 November I met with a number of participants in the scheme. On that occasion I also announced that the eligibility criteria had been extended, meaning that all ex-service personnel can now take advantage of the support offered by the scheme.

Consultants

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) full-time and (b) temporary staff in his Department are working on the Red Tape Challenge; and what the estimated number of such staff will be in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 14 November 2011
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 November 2011, Official Report, column 324W.

Departmental Written Questions

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many parliamentary questions for written answer on a named day by his Department were answered (a) on time, (b) five days late, (c) 10 days late, (d) 20 days late and (e) over 30 days late in each month since May 2010;
	(2)  how many parliamentary questions for (a) ordinary written answer and (b) written answer on a named day by his Department have remained unanswered for a period of two months since May 2010.

Edward Davey: The Department aims to answer named day questions on the date specified by the Member, and ordinary parliamentary questions (PQs) within five sitting days. Where it is not possible to provide a full answer within the usual deadline, the Department believes it will normally be preferable to provide an answer a few days late, rather than provide an incomplete answer.
	During the period 10 May 2010 to 31 October 2011 a total of 1,469 named day parliamentary questions (PQs) were due for answer, of which 969 (66%) received a substantive reply on the date requested by the Member. Twenty-three of the 1,469 named day answers (2%) did not receive a substantive answer within 10 sitting days.
	In line with the format provided to the Procedure Committee in the last session,(1) the Department's PQ data are recorded by (i) questions answered on time (ii) questions answered within 5 to 10 days and (iii) questions answered more than 10 days late. Data related to PQs answered 20 or 30 days late are not held centrally within the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).
	The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written PQ performance on a sessional basis and will provide the committee with the information, using the same format as before, at the end of the session.
	These figures have been drawn from the Department's database which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	(1 )Procedure Committee—First Special Report 7 December 2009 [HC 129].

European Union

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many ministerial-level meetings have been held in his Department as part of the Government's examination of the balance of EU competences.

Edward Davey: I refer the right hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire South to the answer I gave on 21 November 2011, Official Report, column reference 143W.

Higher Education

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how much funding has been allocated for each higher education institution in (a) the west midlands and (b) Birmingham in each of the next five years;
	(2)  how much funding his Department has allocated to higher education institutions in (a) Newcastle, (b) Wakefield, (c) Manchester, (d) Leeds, (e) Liverpool, (f) Bristol, (g) Sheffield, (h) Bradford, (i) Leicester and (j) Nottingham in each of the next five years.

David Willetts: The recurrent funding that the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) pays to higher education institutions (HEIs) is calculated on an annual basis. The most recent available allocation figures are for 2011-12. Details of the 2011-12 allocations are available on the HEFCE website at:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/finance/recurrent/2011/notify/
	A summary table of allocations by region can also be accessed through this link.
	Subsequent years' allocations are not confirmed. Future year allocations are subject to funding agreement and will be confirmed in subsequent grant letters.

Higher Education: Regulation

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to publish (a) a summary of consultation responses received, (b) a list of respondents and (c) the Government's response to his Department's consultation entitled A new, fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for the Higher Education sector.

David Willetts: The Higher Education Technical Consultation closed on 27 October 2011. The Department will respond in due course. This response will include a summary of all consultation responses and a list of the respondents.

Higher Education: Students

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what research he has commissioned on the effect on the number of mature students in higher education of the Government's decision to remove limits on student numbers for those achieving grades AAB or above at A level; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what research he has commissioned on the effects on the number of black and ethnic minority students entering higher education of the Government's decision to remove the cap on student numbers for those achieving grades AAB or above at A level; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Higher Education White Paper, "Students at the Heart of the System" published in June this year, sets out clearly the importance the Government place on widening participation and improving fair access to higher education. We have been clear that all those with the ability should have access to higher education irrespective of their background or family income. Following the publication of the HE White Paper BIS Ministers wrote to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) setting out priorities for funding which includes the additional costs associated with attracting and retaining students from non-traditional backgrounds, and disabled students.
	The impact of the proposed changes to student number controls that were outlined in the HE White Paper were assessed in the HE White Paper Equality Impact Assessment. This concluded that any changes that we make to help meet some of the significant demand for higher education will have no adverse affect on protected or disadvantaged groups because any 2012/13 changes will work within existing entrant control systems and will not affect the number of student places. It also outlined that most students with AAB+ A-level grades already go to university.
	Annex D of HEFCE's consultation on teaching funding and student number controls (SNC) for 2012/13
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2011/11_20/
	provides information on proportions of students known to have AAB+, known not to have AAB+ or who are not attributed to either population, with breakdowns for subject area, ethnicity and age group.
	We have instructed HEFCE to continue to monitor impact on particular groups and in developing the proposals for teaching funding and allocating student numbers for 2012-13 HEFCE has assessed the impact on the HE sector in terms of regulatory burden, equality and diversity, sustainable development and privacy in its Sector Impact Assessment
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/learning/funding/201213/201213_tfund_SIA.pdf

Occupational Health: Research

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the state of research in the field of occupational health.

David Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC), one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research, has not assessed the state of research in occupational health recently. A routine quinquennial review of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, which includes research in occupational health, took place in 2009.

Office for Fair Access

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to paragraph 17 in the Executive Summary of the Higher Education White Paper, “Students at the heart of the system”, what progress he has made in increasing the resources of the Office for Fair Access.

David Willetts: In the financial year 2010/11 the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) baseline budget was £484,000. We have agreed in the course of this year (2011/12) to increase this to £630,000 and are continuing to work with the director to keep this under review to ensure he has access to the resources he needs to fulfil his role in line with the Government's expectations set out in the letter to him on 10 February 2011.
	The Government have committed to strengthen OFFA, as outlined in the Higher Education White Paper “Students at the heart of the system”, so it can provide a more active and energetic challenge and support to universities and colleges. We will work with the next Director on the size and structure of OFFA but will make significantly more resources available, increasing capacity up to around four times its original level.

Public Houses

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to respond to the Tenth Report from the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee on Pub Companies, HC 1369; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The Government response to Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee report on Pub Companies was published this morning. The response may be found on the BIS website and contains a full statement of the Government’s position:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/publications

Qualifications: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many adults in the London borough of Bexley completed a (a) level 2 and (b) level 3 qualification in the last five years for which figures are available.

John Hayes: The following table shows the number of adults (aged 19+) achieving a Government-funded full level 2 and full level 3 qualification in Bexley local education authority from 2005/06 to 2009/10, the latest years for which final data are available.
	
		
			 Full level 2 and full level 3 achievements by adults (aged 19+) in Bexley local education authority, 2005/06 to 2009/10 
			 Academic Full level 2 achievements Full level 3 achievements 
			 2005/06 430 370 
			 2006/07 700 440 
			 2007/08 1,100 500 
			 2008/09(1) 1,900 700 
			 2009/10(1) 1,960 890 
			 (1) Figures for 2008/09 onwards are not directly comparable to earlier years due to the introduction of demand led funding. More information on demand-led funding is available at: http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/datadictionary/businessdefinitions/Demand+Led+Funding.htm Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Age is based on age at the start of the academic year. 3. Geographic information is based upon the home postcode of the learner. 4. These data include Learner Responsive, Apprenticeships, Workplace Learning, Adult Safeguarded Learning and University for Industry funding streams. Learner Responsive provision includes General Further Education Colleges including Tertiary, Sixth Form Colleges, Special Colleges (Agricultural and Horticultural Colleges and Art and Design Colleges), Specialist Colleges and External Institutions. 5. These data include all Government-funded FE participation and achievement excluding schools and higher education. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on Further Education and Skills participation and achievement is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Regional Growth Fund

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2011, Official Report, column 802W, on the Regional Growth Fund, whether his Department takes into account the amount spent by companies on due diligence when assessing bids to the Regional Growth Fund.

Mark Prisk: The Regional Growth Fund does not require companies to undertake due diligence ahead of submitting a bid.

Renewable Energy: Training

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how much of the budget allocated to the Renewables Training Network he estimates will be spent in Scotland;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with (a) the Scottish Executive, (b) Scottish universities, (c) Scottish colleges and (d) businesses in Scotland on the formation of the Renewables Training Network.

John Hayes: The Renewables Training Network receives public funding from the Growth and Innovation Fund, alongside matching employer investment. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills funding for skills covers England only and the scope of Growth and Innovation Fund projects reflects that.

Students: Loans

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of graduates who will not repay their student loans in full over a 30-year period.

David Willetts: We currently estimate that around 40% of borrowers will not fully repay their loan either because it will be written off due to death, not being able to work again due to permanent disability or after 30 years has expired.
	We currently estimate that the resource accounting and budgeting charge for student loans—representing the cost of both write-offs and interest subsidies—will be around 30% of the face value of loans issued.

Trade Unions: Training

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many diplomas were awarded to participants in Equalities for Trade Union Representatives courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(2)  how many awards were made to participants in Trade Union Health and Safety Representation courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(3)  how many awards were made to participants in Trade Union Representative courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(4)  how many awards were made to participants in Trade Unions Today courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(5)  how many certificates were awarded to participants in Trade Union Health and Safety Representatives courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(6)  how many certificates were awarded to participants in Trade Union Health and Safety Representatives (Next Steps) courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(7)  how many certificates were awarded to participants in Trade Union Representatives (stage 1) courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(8)  how many certificates were awarded to participants in Trade Union Representatives (Stepping Up) courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(9)  how many certificates were awarded to participants in Trade Union Learning Representatives courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(10)  how many certificates were awarded to participants in Trade Unions Today courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(11)  what courses for trade union representatives were funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years;
	(12)  how many diplomas were awarded to participants in TUC Organising Academy courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(13)  how many diplomas were awarded to participants in Trade Union Tutor Training courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(14)  how many diplomas were awarded to participants in Organising and Recruitment for Trade Unions courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(15)  how many diplomas were awarded to participants in Organising and Recruitment for Trade Union Health and Safety Representatives - Occupational Health and Safety courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(16)  how many diplomas were awarded to participants in Trade Union Representatives - Contemporary Trade Unionism courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;
	(17)  how many diplomas were awarded to participants in Trade Union Health Representatives - Employment Law courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last five years; which institutions taught these courses; and what the cost was in each year;

John Hayes: Since April 2010, the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has been responsible for funding post-19 Further Education (FE) and Skills provision delivered through FE colleges and training organisations (the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) had this responsibility from 2001).
	Each academic year, FE colleges and training organisations receive a post-19 funding allocation at the programme level (for example budgets for Adult Skills, Adult Safeguarded Learning and/or Offender Learning and Skills). As funding is not allocated at the learning aim level the amount of money spent on TUC learning aims is not recorded centrally by the Skills Funding Agency (or the LSC previously).
	I have made data available in the Libraries of the House showing the number of Government-funded FE enrolments for Trade Union representative Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) courses by level, provider name and funding rate. The QCF system was introduced in 2009/10, therefore only data for 2009/10 have been included, this is the latest year for which final enrolment data are available.
	Information on FE and skills participation, enrolments and achievements is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 October 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
	Information on FE and skills enrolments by aim title for academic years 2005/06 to 2009/10 is available in the National Aims Report:
	http://mireportslibrary.thedataservice.org.uk/learners/

EDUCATION

Academies

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have (a) become academies and (b) applied to become academies in each (i) region and (ii) parliamentary constituency since May 2010.

Nick Gibb: As of 1 November 2011, 1,100 schools in England had successfully converted to academy status, while 1,600 schools (including the open converted academies) had applied to convert to academy status. The precise number of open converted academies and applications to convert in each region and in each constituency has been placed in the House Libraries.

Academies: Finance

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons he awarded funding from the public purse to an academy in Lincolnshire for the purposes of purchasing a property in France; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Academies have considerable flexibility in deciding how they use their resources and the property was purchased for educational purposes using that flexibility. Approval was given in September 2009.

Bell Pottinger Group

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) political advisers in his Department have met representatives of (i) Bell Pottinger Group or (ii) each of its subsidiaries in the last five years; on what dates any such meetings took place; and what was discussed.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education publishes all ministerial and permanent secretaries' meetings with external organisations on a quarterly basis. The information can be viewed at the following links:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/transparency/a0065263/ministers-quarterly-returns
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/transparency/a0075403/the-permanent-secretarys-meetings-with-external-organisations
	The Information for April to June 2011 will be published in due course. The information for July to September 2011 is being collated.
	The additional information requested for each of the five years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Children: Disability

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what financial and other support is in place to ensure that individuals aged 16 in receipt of disability living allowance are equipped to make informed and responsible financial decisions.

Nick Gibb: Under the terms of the new 16-19 bursary fund which was introduced in September 2011, the most vulnerable young people are eligible for a bursary of £1,200 a year—more than they could have received under education maintenance allowance (EMA). This includes disabled young people in receipt of both employment support allowance and disability living allowance.
	When we announced the ending of EMA, we set out plans for transitional support for the majority of young people who had received EMA in 2010/11 and were continuing in post-16 education or training in 2011/12. Some young people in receipt of disability living allowance may be receiving weekly payments under these arrangements. It is of course important that young people know how to use their money wisely and make responsible financial decisions. Personal finance is covered within the economic wellbeing and financial capability strand of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education for young people under 16. This is a non-statutory programme of study which gives teachers the flexibility to tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of their pupils. Young people aged 16 and over have access to the independent Money Advice Service which was set up by the Government to give free, unbiased money advice to help people make informed choices. Their advice and information is available online, over the phone and face-to-face.

NDPBs

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many officials were (a) directly and (b) otherwise employed by non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible (i) in 2000, (ii) in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Tim Loughton: The Department was created on 11 May 2010 and employed 2,622 civil servants at that time. The Department currently employs 2,594 civil servants. Information on the public servants currently employed in Department's non-departmental public bodies
	(1)
	can be found at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/transparency/a00199711/monthly-workforce-management-information-2011
	Historical data for these bodies is a matter for them and is not held centrally.
	Contact information for them can be found at the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/transparency/b0065313/disclosure-of-scs-posts-and-salary-information
	(1) Not arm’s length bodies as this term includes non-ministerial departments and a public corporation.

Private Finance Initiative

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  if he will publish the (a) cost, (b) date of commencement and (c) duration of each private finance initiative contract managed by his Department;
	(2)  what the (a) cost, (b) date of commencement and (c) duration is of each private finance initiative contract managed by his Department.

Nick Gibb: holding answer s 27 October and  23 November 2011
	Information on the private initiative contracts managed by the Department is available on the Treasury's website and can be accessed by using the following link:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_pfi_stats.htm

Departmental Responsibilities

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education at how many events organised by (a) charities, (b) civil society groups, (c) businesses and (d) lobbying organisations (i) Ministers and (ii) senior officials in his Department have spoken in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 25 October 2011
	Since May 2010, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), and the rest of his ministerial team have attended many events organised by a wide range of organisations.
	The level of detailed information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	A range of speeches by the Department for Education ministerial team can be found at the following link:
	http://education.gov.uk/inthenews/speeches

Family Intervention Programme

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2011, Official Report, columns 201-02W, on the family intervention programme, when his Department expects to set the budget for family intervention projects in each of the next four years.

Tim Loughton: We plan to make a decision on future funding for family intervention projects shortly. Funding up to March 2012 is included as part of the DfE £2.2 billion Early Intervention Grant.

Free Schools

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many free schools do not use the national curriculum; and how many do not use nationally negotiated pay agreements to determine teacher pay.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The Department does not hold this information. As with academies, all mainstream free schools have freedoms over the curriculum they deliver, provided it is broad and balanced. Similarly, free schools are able to set their own pay and conditions for their staff.

Free Schools

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which free schools have (a) opened and (b) been approved to open in each (i) region, (ii) local authority and (iii) parliamentary constituency.

Nick Gibb: The first 24 mainstream Free Schools opened in September 2011. The names and locations of these schools are shown by region in the following table. At this stage no other schools have been approved to open in 2012 or beyond.
	
		
			 Region School name Local authority Constituency 
			 East Midlands Krishna-Avanti Primary School Leicester City Leicester East 
			     
			 East of England Moorlands Free School Luton Luton North 
			 East of England Free School Norwich Norfolk Norwich South 
			 East of England Stour Valley Community School Suffolk South Suffolk 
			     
			 London Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School Barnet Hendon 
			 London St Luke's Church of England Primary School Camden Hampstead and Kilburn 
			 London Woodpecker Hall Primary Academy Enfield Edmonton 
			 London ARK Conway Academy Hammersmith and Fulham Hammersmith 
			 London West London Free School Hammersmith and Fulham Hammersmith 
			 London Eden Primary School Haringey Hornsey & Wood Green 
			 London Aldborough E-ACT Free School Redbridge Ilford South 
			 London Canary Wharf College Tower Hamlets Poplar and Limehouse 
			 London ARK Atwood Academy Westminster Westminster North 
			     
			 North West Sandbach School Cheshire East Congleton 
			 North West Maharishi School Lancashire West Lancashire 
			     
			 South East All Saints Junior School Reading Reading West 
			 South East Langley Hall Primary Academy Slough Slough 
			 South East Discovery New School West Sussex Crawley 
			     
			 South West Bristol Free School Bristol Bristol North West 
			     
		
	
	
		
			 West Midlands Nishkam Free School Birmingham Birmingham Perry Barr 
			 West Midlands Priors Free School Warwickshire Kenilworth and Southam 
			     
			 Yorkshire and Humber Bradford Science Academy Bradford Bradford South 
			 Yorkshire and Humber Rainbow Free School Bradford Bradford West 
			 Yorkshire and Humber Batley Grammar School Kirklees Batley and Spen

Free Schools: Finance

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 287W, on free schools, what the threshold percentage is set out in the funding agreement of each free school relating to any shortfall or increase in pupil numbers.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 November 2011
	Funding agreements for each of the free schools that opened in September 2011 will be published in due course.

Child Exploitation

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information his Department requires from local safeguarding children boards in respect of child exploitation.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education does not require Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) to submit any information about child exploitation.
	However, this is an extremely important issue which the Government take very seriously. LSCBs have a key role in ensuring that local multi-agency arrangements are in place to help and protect children and young people from all forms of child abuse, including child sexual exploitation. The national child sexual exploitation action plan, which the Government will publish shortly, will contain a clear message that every LSCB needs to treat child sexual exploitation as a priority and to assure itself that local service provision are informed by a robust assessment of the local situation.

New Schools Network: Finance

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  for how long he intends to continue funding work being undertaken by the New Schools Network;
	(2)  what assessment was made of the value for money of work being undertaken by the New Schools Network, funded by his Department, prior to its grant funding being renewed in October 2011; and if he will publish this assessment;
	(3)  what assessment was made of the need to continue to fund work undertaken by the New Schools Network prior to its grant funding being renewed in October 2011; and if he will publish this assessment.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 14 November 2011
	Officials assessed both the performance and value for money of the New Schools Network's (NSN) work throughout the original grant period. NSN was found to have played a major role in assisting groups to submit quality applications to the Department; for example of the 24 Free Schools that opened this year, 22 had received advice and guidance from NSN. In the 2012 mainstream application process NSN supported over 80% of those approved by the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), to move to the pre-opening phase of development.
	These figures, supplemented by feedback from groups who contacted NSN for help, clearly demonstrate the value of the support to groups in developing their Free School applications. That is why we assessed that there was an ongoing need for an organisation to provide similar pre-application support and ran an open competition to offer a grant for these services from 1 November 2011 to 31 March 2013 (with a possible one-year extension). We have no plans to publish any specific information relating to these assessments.

Child Exploitation

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of recent trends in localised grooming and child sexual exploitation.

Tim Loughton: The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre carried out a thematic assessment of child sexual exploitation, with particular reference to ‘localised grooming’, earlier this year. The CEOP report ‘Out of Mind, Out of Sight: Breaking down the barriers to understanding child sexual exploitation’, published in June 2011, provided an outline of trends, themes and patterns. These were, however, based on a limited number of responses to a request to local agencies for data and the CEOP report acknowledged that findings from the thematic assessment were not fully representative.
	The Government have published a national action plan to tackle child sexual exploitation. This will emphasise the importance of undertaking further research to improve understanding of child sexual exploitation and inform effective responses to it. It will look forward to findings becoming available from the recently launched inquiry by the Office of the Children's Commissioner into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups.

Private Finance Initiative: Correspondence

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence between his Department and local authorities relating to the private finance initiative since May 2010.

Nick Gibb: The correspondence between the Department and local authorities is vast and varies depending on an individual local authority. We intend to keep correspondence on the private finance initiative in the Libraries only if it relates to parliamentary question on a particular issue, parliamentary debates or a parliamentary commitment that has been made in the House.
	The Secretary of State for Education made an oral statement on 19 July 2011, Official Report, column 792, to announce the new private finance programme, the Priority School Building Programme.

Pupil Premium

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many payments of the pupil premium his Department made in the 2011-12 school year.

Nick Gibb: The Pupil Premium is paid on a financial year basis. Two Pupil Premium payments have been made by the Department in financial year 2011-2012, in June 2011 and September 2011. A further two will be made in December 2011 and March 2012 for the 2011-12 financial year.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average level of expenditure per child in primary schools has been in each local education authority since May 2010.

Nick Gibb: The available information on the average level of expenditure per child in primary schools in each local education authority for 2009-10 is shown in the following table. The information for 2010-11 is currently being collected and will be available in January 2012 when it will be published as Official Statistics.
	
		
			 Expenditure per child in primary schools in each local education authority for 2009-10 
			 LEA name Schools net current expenditure (£) Number of pupils (at January 2010) Schools net current expenditure per pupil (£) 
			 Barking and Dagenham 76,107,603 20,144 3,778.18 
			 Barnet 115,892,685 27,169 4,265.62 
			 Barnsley 71,604,124 19,228 3,723.95 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 42,525,877 11,839 3,592.02 
			 Bedford Borough 34,109,922 9,288 3,672.47 
			 Bexley 73,893,283 20,259 3,647.43 
			 Birmingham 423,899,402 102,093 4,152.09 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 55,296,671 14,316 3,862.58 
			 Blackpool 41,458,398 11,338 3,656.59 
			 Bolton 86,312,728 25,138 3,433.56 
			 Bournemouth 35,829,409 10,246 3,496.92 
			 Bracknell Forest 29,375,878 8,903 3,299.55 
			 Bradford 205,535,828 53,648 3,831.19 
			 Brent 110,059,737 24,247 4,539.11 
			 Brighton and Hove 58,882,527 17,340 3,395.76 
			 Bristol, City of 108,746,780 29,430 3,695.10 
			 Bromley 84,839,273 23,706 3,578.81 
			 Buckinghamshire 141,407,586 39,859 3,547.70 
			 Bury 56,927,312 16,154 3,524.04 
			 Calderdale 69,677,837 18,734 3,719.33 
			 Cambridgeshire 158,138,819 43,932 3,599.63 
			 Camden 61,524,584 11,489 5,355.09 
			 Central Bedfordshire 56,697,569 15,789 3,590.95 
		
	
	
		
			 Cheshire East 94,933,406 26,858 3,534.64 
			 Cheshire West and Chester 92,980,311 24,982 3,721.89 
			 City of London 1,569,788 233 6,737.29 
			 Cornwall 136,310,776 37,462 3,638.64 
			 Coventry 101,951,283 27,599 3,694.02 
			 Croydon 114,697,987 29,345 3,908.60 
			 Cumbria 143,607,324 37,484 3,831.16 
			 Darlington 30,109,902 8,801 3,421.19 
			 Derby 80,202,059 21,551 3,721.50 
			 Derbyshire 204,362,732 58,830 3,473.78 
			 Devon 185,583,809 51,855 3,578.90 
			 Doncaster 93,171,703 25,896 3,597.92 
			 Dorset 85,752,768 23,753 3,610.19 
			 Dudley 98,723,282 26,792 3,684.80 
			 Durham 157,915,967 39,538 3,994.03 
			 Ealing 113,449,100 27,771 4,085.16 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 87,334,545 24,476 3,568.17 
			 East Sussex 124,705,555 34,898 3,573.43 
			 Enfield 123,339,380 28,679 4,300.69 
			 Essex 385,120,038 104,289 3,692.82 
			 Gateshead 56,136,992 15,170 3,700.53 
			 Gloucestershire 152,347,209 41,593 3,662.81 
			 Greenwich 97,664,725 21,752 4,489.92 
			 Hackney 99,455,748 18,074 5,502.70 
			 Halton 40,185,661 9,971 4,030.25 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 49,650,712 9,940 4,995.04 
			 Hampshire 350,088,346 94,440 3,706.99 
			 Haringey 101,353,676 21,952 4,617.06 
			 Harrow 80,511,482 19,793 4,067.67 
			 Hartlepool 33,809,976 8,665 3,901.90 
			 Havering 71,441,203 19,228 3,715.48 
			 Herefordshire 46,416,670 12,382 3,748.72 
			 Hertfordshire 319,574,673 92,917 3,439.36 
			 Hillingdon 98,917,484 25,339 3,903.76 
			 Hounslow 79,586,985 19,646 4,051.05 
			 Isle of Wight 25,860,813 6,293 4,109.46 
			 Isles of Scilly 2,314,102 275 8,414.92 
			 Islington 76,654,768 13,813 5,549.47 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 37,717,271 7,046 5,353.00 
			 Kent 395,772,125 108,669 3,642.00 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 76,159,242 21,012 3,624.56 
			 Kingston upon Thames 46,566,402 12,153 3,831.68 
			 Kirklees 141,024,061 35,923 3,925.73 
			 Knowsley 53,088,820 14,223 3,732.60 
			 Lambeth 120,571,779 20,848 5,783.37 
			 Lancashire 340,372,347 89,941 3,784.40 
			 Leeds 227,060,731 61,545 3,689.34 
			 Leicester 102,106,757 28,099 3,633.82 
			 Leicestershire 170,178,659 46,950 3,624.68 
			 Lewisham 108,596,577 22,040 4,927.25 
			 Lincolnshire 177,571,361 50,610 3,508.62 
			 Liverpool 145,650,531 35,665 4,083.85 
			 Luton 78,565,026 19,161 4,100.26 
			 Manchester 170,982,396 41,604 4,109.76 
		
	
	
		
			 Medway 85,048,464 22,196 3.831.70 
			 Merton 60,000,743 16,133 3,719.13 
			 Middlesbrough 50,943,833 13,661 3,729.14 
			 Milton Keynes 81,189,426 21,884 3,709.99 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 73,425,050 19,237 3,816.87 
			 Newham 148,840,145 31,984 4,653.58 
			 Norfolk 220,346,213 58,632 3,758.12 
			 North East Lincolnshire 49,435,559 13,390 3,695.71 
			 North Lincolnshire 47,834,783 13,598 3,517.78 
			 North Somerset 54,926,731 15,245 3,602.93 
			 North Tyneside 53,249,543 15,785 3,373.43 
			 North Yorkshire 158,685,223 42,761 3,710.98 
			 Northamptonshire 194,286,673 55,686 3,488.97 
			 Northumberland 68,595,889 17,912 3,829.61 
			 Nottingham 94,474,078 23,177 4,076.20 
			 Nottinghamshire 229,230,972 62,442 3,671.10 
			 Oldham 85,952,239 23,499 3,657.70 
			 Oxfordshire 166,070,954 47,668 3,483.91 
			 Peterborough 59,555,606 15,795 3,770.54 
			 Plymouth 67,251,760 18,579 3,619.77 
			 Poole 34,532,838 10,135 3,407.29 
			 Portsmouth 54,210,067 13,929 3,891.89 
			 Reading 39,398,180 10,930 3,604.59 
			 Redbridge 95,347,930 26,200 3,639.23 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 46,076,334 12,434 3,705.67 
			 Richmond upon Thames 50,609,371 13,882 3,645.68 
			 Rochdale 73,934,972 19,307 3,829.44 
			 Rotherham 84,054,950 22,671 3,707.60 
			 Rutland 9,453,221 2,542 3,718.81 
			 Salford 70,570,625 19,080 3,698.67 
			 Sandwell 116,207,662 30,280 3,837.77 
			 Sefton 83,850,185 21,706 3,863.00 
			 Sheffield 152,028,530 41,770 3,639.66 
			 Shropshire 69,256,167 20,839 3,323.39 
			 Slough 47,879,873 12,860 3,723.16 
			 Solihull 62,881,038 19,183 3,277.96 
			 Somerset 131,346,551 35,387 3,711.72 
			 South Gloucestershire 69,704,101 20,847 3,343.60 
			 South Tyneside 45,180,742 11,811 3,825.31 
			 Southampton 61,335,855 16,152 3,797.42 
			 Southend-on-Sea 51,613,366 13,438 3,840.85 
			 Southwark 121,396,666 22,380 5,424.34 
			 St Helens 53,418,429 14,620 3,653.79 
			 Staffordshire 213,900,775 60,940 3,510.02 
			 Stockport 78,969,937 22,563 3,499.98 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 57,625,863 17,414 3,309.17 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 74,294,731 21,008 3,536.50 
			 Suffolk 158,017,778 44,635 3,540.22 
			 Sunderland 85,187,462 22,440 3,796.23 
			 Surrey 287,404,817 79,501 3,615.11 
			 Sutton 54,885,163 14,886 3,687.03 
			 Swindon 57,645,072 16,355 3,524.61 
		
	
	
		
			 Tameside 67,521,761 19,747 3,419.34 
			 Telford and Wrekin 48,123,282 14,048 3,425.63 
			 Thurrock 50,503,976 14,032 3,599.20 
			 Torbay 32,214,013 9,532 3,379.56 
			 Tower Hamlets 133,380,388 23,212 5,746.18 
			 Trafford 64,446,260 19,667 3,276.87 
			 Wakefield 97,835,514 27,911 3,505.27 
			 Walsall 98,266,274 25,716 3,821.21 
			 Waltham Forest 93,293,760 22,196 4,203.18 
			 Wandsworth 85,869,421 17,815 4,820.06 
			 Warrington 60,146,978 17,267 3,483.35 
			 Warwickshire 139,445,746 39,929 3,492.34 
			 West Berkshire 45,435,507 12,344 3,680.78 
			 West Sussex 202,350,265 56,398 3,587.90 
			 Westminster 56,119,977 11,272 4,978.71 
			 Wigan 93,049,493 25,382 3,665.96 
			 Wiltshire 122,754,533 34,151 3,594.46 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 31,198,249 8,748 3,566.33 
			 Wirral 91,829,874 25,190 3,645.49 
			 Wokingham 42,061,697 12,457 3,376.55 
			 Wolverhampton 84,505,311 21,959 3,848.32 
			 Worcestershire 135,043,167 38,303 3,525.66 
			 York 44,868,421 12,936 3,468.49 
			 Notes: 1. The data are taken from the local authorities section 251 Outturn statement for 2009-10, Table A line 56 Schools Net Current Expenditure and School Census. 2. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 13 December 2010. 3. Net current expenditure is rounded to the nearest £.

Schools: Buildings

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what criteria he used to determine the priorities for the Property Data Survey Programme;
	(2)  whether the Property Data Survey Programme will include any assessment of the condition of asbestos; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what recent assessment he has made of the condition of asbestos in school buildings; and what estimate he has made of the costs of (a) managing asbestos in situ and (b) demolishing and rebuilding schools containing asbestos;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the findings of the report by Nottinghamshire county council on the cost of rebuilding or refurbishing school buildings containing asbestos.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 22 November 2011
	The Property Data Survey (PDS) Programme will take into account both the condition and the priority of the work to elements of buildings, external areas and playing fields.
	Condition will be graded on a scale of A to D, where A is classified as good and D as bad. In addition to the condition grade the priority of work will be captured on a scale of 1 to 4, where 1 is urgent work and 4 is work which will be required in the longer term. To minimise burdens we are applying the same condition and priority grading system that has been used by local authorities for asset management planning purposes since 1999.
	The data collected will be used to provide evidence of the current condition of schools, and enable future maintenance funding allocations to be focused on the buildings with the greatest need.
	Property data surveys will not include an assessment of asbestos, the responsibility for which currently lies and will remain with local authorities and schools under the Control of Asbestos Regulations. However while carrying out the PDS the surveyor will seek confirmation that the school has carried out their statutory obligations and if not will direct them to the Department's website and relevant guidance.
	The responsibility for assessing the condition of asbestos in school buildings lies with the local duty holder for the particular school. We have not made an estimate of the cost of managing asbestos in situ or demolishing and rebuilding schools containing asbestos.
	Partnerships for Schools received a report from Nottinghamshire county council, "Issues of Using CLASP to transform learning—Nottinghamshire County Council". This addresses the best value for money approach to refurbishing or rebuilding CLASP schools and includes some consideration of how to deal with asbestos in these buildings. The report showed the high cost of refurbishment of CLASP buildings and that in many cases it is more cost-effective to rebuild than to refurbish and remodel such buildings. We are not aware of another report from Nottinghamshire county council specifically addressing the cost of rebuilding or refurbishing school buildings containing asbestos.

Schools: Fires

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  whether his Department plans to review Building Bulletin 100: Design for fire safety in schools; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether his planned review of school building regulations will consider fire safety;
	(3)  whether his Department has assessed the costs and benefits of installing sprinklers in new schools.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 1 November 2011
	On 3 November the Department issued a public consultation document "Standards for School Premises". This document includes our proposals to revise the school premises regulations and to reduce significantly the amount of guidance on school premises.
	Fire safety, including the fire resistance of building elements and provision of adequate means of escape in case of fire, is covered in Part B of the Building Regulations, but more generally by the RRF03 (as cited in Part 3 of the ISSs). We think that it is unnecessary to duplicate the requirements of the RRFO in school premises regulations.
	We propose to withdraw all documents that are of limited value and streamline the rest. It is our intention to consolidate our regulatory guidance including BB100. Regulatory guidance includes requirements for compliance with the building regulations and illustrates how compliance can be achieved.
	The costs and benefits of installing sprinkler systems varies with the type of school, its location and the incidence of crime. The Department has published a cost benefit analysis tool for sprinklers and other fire and security measures which is available on the Department's website. It is intended for use by local authorities and schools to calculate the cost benefit for a particular school. A cost analysis of sprinklers in schools that was carried out on behalf of the Department in 2007 is also available on the website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/schoolscapital/buildingsanddesign/environmental/a0063718/fire-safety-design-guidance-building-bulletin-100

Schools: Solar Power

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the potential cost to schools, colleges and other educational buildings for which photovoltaic solar panels were planned arising from the proposed reductions in feed-in tariffs.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not hold information on take-up and use of photovoltaic solar panels in education establishments. Therefore, I am not able to estimate the impact of changes to feed-in tariffs.

Schools: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much (a) capital and (b) revenue funding was allocated to schools in Warrington in each of the last five years, including the pupil premium for 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 24 October 2011
	The available information on how much funding (a) capital and (b) revenue funding was allocated to schools in Warrington in each of the last five years, including the pupil premium for 2011-12 is shown as follows:
	
		
			 (a) Capital figures for Warrington (for Partnership for Schools managed programmes) 
			  £ million 
			 2006-07 12.7 
			 2007-08 11.7 
			 2008-09 14 
			 2009-10 37.6 
			 2010-11 19.3 
			 2011-12 (provisional) 5.6 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) Revenue funding allocated to schools in Warrington excluding pupil premium 
			  £ 
			 2007-08 117,186,325 
			 2008-09 120,393,189 
			 2009-10 123,572,276 
			 2010-11 127,340,094 
			 2011-12 133,062,958 
		
	
	(c) Warrington has been allocated a total of £1.72 million for the pupil premium in 2011-12.

Training: Citizenship

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reason he has decided that there should be no training bursary available for PGCE citizenship courses.

Nick Gibb: Trainees currently receive no bursary for PGCE citizenship courses. Bursaries are an additional incentive, on top of the full package of student support, to attract teacher trainees. Citizenship has a good record in attracting enough high quality trainees to meet the demand from schools for new teachers. We will therefore continue not to offer a bursary for citizenship for those who train in 2012/13. We review ITT bursaries each year to ensure that they reflect the level of supply and demand for trainees in each subject.

Young People: Education

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young parents were in receipt of care to learn funding in (a) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, (b) Middlesbrough local authority area, (c) Redcar and Cleveland local authority area, (d) Teesside, (e) the North East and (f) nationally in the last year for which figures are available; and how many such recipients were aged 19 years or over.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the Care to Learn allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Letter from Peter Lauener, dated 24 November 2011
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question PQ80765 that asks:
	"How many young parents were in receipt of care to learn funding in (a) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, (b) Middlesbrough local authority area, (c) Redcar and Cleveland local authority area, (d) Teesside, (e) the North East and (f) nationally in the last year for which figures are available; and how many such recipients were aged 19 years or over."
	The academic year 2010/11 is the last year for which these figures are currently available. The numbers of young parents who received funding through the Care to Learn scheme in the 2010/11 academic year in the areas you requested are in the following table. These are the take-up figures as at 31 August 2011.
	
		
			 Area/local authority (LA) Aged 19 years or over Total care to learn take-up 
			 Middlesbrough LA 7 38 
			 Redcar and Cleveland LA 7 29 
			 North East 146 509 
			 National 2,133 6,622 
		
	
	This information is only available by local authority area, and so we are unable to provide figures for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency and Teesside.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Capture and Storage

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has spent on the Longannet Carbon Capture and Storage project since it was established.

Charles Hendry: The Department has spent £60.3 million on the Longannet Carbon Capture and Storage project since it was established to the end of October 2011.

Official Photographs

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many official photographs have been taken of (a) Ministers and (b) senior officials in his Department for use in Government publications since May 2010; how many staff of his Department are expected to undertake photography of the Ministerial and senior leadership team as part of their duties; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: Official photographs are taken when Ministers or senior officials arrive in the Department if required and where a pre-existing photo is not available. Photos of DECC's four Ministers were taken by in-house staff on arrival in May 2010 and have since been used in publications and the departmental website. No photographs of senior officials have been taken since May 2010. There are no designated members of staff expected to undertake photography as part of their duties.

Double Glazing

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of domestic properties without double glazing.

Gregory Barker: The latest English Housing Survey report, published in July 2011, shows that in 2009 only 9% of English homes had no double glazing at all, and only 27% were without full double glazing:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/1937212.pdf

Electricity Generation

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  if he will re-open his Department's consultation on possible models for a capacity mechanism to seek views on the issue of phantom megawatts;
	(2)  what consideration his Department gave to phantom megawatts in its recent consultation on possible models for a capacity mechanism.

Gregory Barker: The recent consultation on possible models for a capacity mechanism considered high level options for a capacity mechanism.
	The chosen capacity mechanism design will be announced in a technical update to the White Paper, which will be published around the turn of the year. The detailed design of the mechanism will be developed in the next phase of the project.
	The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change will not reopen the Department's consultation on possible models for a capacity mechanism.

Electricity Generation

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  if he will urge the National Grid to introduce a full metering system to measure accurately the capacity supplied by short term operating reserve aggregators;
	(2)  what his policy is on establishing an independent auditor of the performance of short term operating reserve aggregators.

Gregory Barker: National Grid has a metering system to accurately measure the capacity supplied by short term operating reserve aggregators in place.
	To monitor and despatch services from demand side response providers such as aggregators, National Grid installs a standing reserve despatch (SRD) system. This is connected to the reserve provider's metering equipment to allow the amount of reserve from each contracted provider to be read each minute and communicated back to National Grid. Following installation, National Grid then has the discretion to ascertain the accuracy and adequacy of the metering equipment providing the metering signals and of the resultant data sent to the SRD system.
	The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change does not plan to establish an independent auditor of the performance of short term operating reserve aggregators.

Energy: Business

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the energy-intensive industries due to receive mitigation from the effect of the carbon floor price will be given the opportunity to review any measures before they are announced.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 23 November 2011
	I am working closely with Government colleagues to deliver the commitment the Government gave earlier this year to create a package of measures to support those energy intensive industries whose international competitiveness is most affected by our energy and climate change policies. We will announce details before the end of the year.
	We have welcomed industry's helpful input to the development of the package through the Green Economy Council Energy Intensive Industries sub-group. I have also met several times with chief executives of energy intensive industries here and in Germany. There are no further plans to discuss measures before our announcement.

Energy: Business

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether there will be a further meeting of the Economy Council sub-group for energy-intensive industries to review plans for mitigation from the carbon price floor; and whether individual businesses will be consulted on site-specific mitigation before it is announced.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 23 November 2011
	I am working closely with Government colleagues to deliver the commitment the Government gave earlier this year to create a package of measures to support those energy intensive industries whose international competitiveness is most affected by our energy and climate change policies. We will announce details before the end of the year.
	We have welcomed industry's helpful input to the development of the package through the Green Economy Council Energy Intensive Industries sub-group. I have also met several times with chief executives of energy intensive industries here and in Germany. There are no further plans to discuss measures before our announcement.

Energy: Meters

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether smart meter rental companies will be regulated.

Gregory Barker: Ofgem is currently undertaking a review of metering arrangements in the gas and electricity sectors which includes consideration of the role of meter asset providers or “meter rental companies”. Under the current arrangements, suppliers are obliged to ensure their meter providers are “fit and proper” to undertake these activities.
	The Government will consider any recommendations made by Ofgem as part of their review of current metering arrangements, in the context of the wider changes to the regulatory framework in the gas and electricity markets being made as part of the smart meter programme.

Energy: Prices

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of energy companies offering discounted prices to new customers only on competition in the energy market;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with Ofgem on the issue of energy companies offering discounted prices to new customers only;
	(3)  whether he has made an estimate of the number of energy companies operating loss-making tariffs in order to attract new customers; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: DECC Ministers and officials regularly meet with the Regulator and energy suppliers to discuss a range of market issues.
	Following their Probe in 2008, Ofgem introduced new rules to prohibit undue discrimination and to ensure cost reflective pricing between payment methods. In order to allow suppliers to compete for new customers, these rules allow suppliers to offer time limited, introductory tariffs.
	Competition is vital to ensure consumers get the best possible deal in the marketplace. Part of ensuring effective competition is opening the market to new entrants and it is therefore important that small suppliers are not disadvantaged if larger suppliers are cross-subsidising loss leader deals to attract new customers by charging their 'sticky' customers higher prices and we have therefore asked Ofgem to look into this issue.

Energy: Prices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  if he will take steps to prevent energy companies offering heavily discounted deals only to new customers;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with major energy companies on their pricing policies.

Gregory Barker: DECC Ministers and officials regularly meet with the Regulator and energy suppliers to discuss a range of market issues.
	Following their Probe in 2008, Ofgem introduced new rules to prohibit undue discrimination and to ensure cost reflective pricing between payment methods. In order to allow suppliers to compete for new customers, these rules allow suppliers to offer time limited, introductory tariffs.
	It is important that existing customers are not disadvantaged if suppliers are cross-subsidising loss leader deals to attract new customers by charging existing customers higher prices and it is also vital that customers can move to the lowest tariff consistent with their needs, which should save them money. We have therefore asked Ofgem to look into this issue.

Environment Protection: Taxation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with groups who support the introduction of measures to assist energy intensive businesses affected by the carbon price floor, but who are not included in the Economy Council sub-group for energy-intensive industries, to review plans for mitigation from the carbon price floor; and what the outcome was of such meetings;
	(2)  what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with groups opposed to the introduction of measures to assist energy intensive businesses affected by the carbon price floor; and what the outcome was of those meetings.

Gregory Barker: I am working closely with Government colleagues to deliver the commitment the Government gave earlier this year, 17 May 2011, Official Report, columns 176-177, to create a package of measures to support those energy intensive industries whose international competitiveness is most affected by our energy and climate change policies. We will announce details before the end of the year.
	DECC Ministers and officials have met, and receive representations from a range of stakeholders in the development of this package, including non-governmental organisations, trade associations, and individual companies. Neither DECC Ministers nor officials have received representations opposing the objective to provide support in a package of measures as set out by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Environment Protection: Taxation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of mitigating the effect of the carbon price floor on energy intensive industries on the policy's aim of providing certainty and support for low-carbon investment; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Wirral West (Esther McVey) of 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 643-4W, on taxation: environment protection, what assessment he has made of the effect of measures to mitigate the effect of the carbon price floor on energy intensive industries on emissions from electricity generation; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: I am working closely with Government colleagues to deliver the commitment the Government gave earlier this year to create a package of measures to support those energy intensive industries whose international competitiveness is most affected by our energy and climate change policies. We will announce details before the end of the year.

Government Buildings: Solar Power

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with other Departments on the installation of solar PV on (a) any Whitehall department buildings and (b) any other Government-owned properties; and whether such installations would be eligible for solar photovoltaic feed-in tariffs.

Gregory Barker: The Department has had no such discussions.
	The eligibility of individual installations for the feed-in tariffs (FITs) is a matter for Ofgem and licensed electricity suppliers. There is nothing specifically precluding solar photovoltaic installations on Government-owned buildings being eligible for FITs, if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Heating Systems

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether future revisions to the Code for Sustainable Homes will specify the types of central heating systems that are acceptable; and what consideration he has given to the potential effects of any such revisions on (a) fuel costs and (b) carbon dioxide emissions. [R]

Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Code for Sustainable Homes is similar to the building regulations in that it sets performance targets to be met, combined with a functional (technology-neutral) approach to sustainable development to help encourage innovation in this sector. The code does not specify particular products or systems to meet outcomes. Future revisions to the code in respect of central heating will reflect the direction of travel of forthcoming revisions to Part L of the building regulations, which are underpinning the Government's policy for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016. Where changes to the code are proposed, these will be subject to impact assessment examining cost issues and the likely effects on emissions.

International Physical Protection Advisory Service

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information (a) his Department and (b) nuclear operators provided to the International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) in support of its visit to Sellafield and Barrow; what conclusions were reached by IPPAS; and if he will place in the Library a redacted copy of the final report by IPPAS.

Charles Hendry: The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) Mission Team were presented with a range of background material on the legal and regulatory framework for civil nuclear security by my Department and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). Sellafield Ltd and International Nuclear Services provided background information on how this framework is implemented at the Sellafield site and Barrow port.
	The IPPAS Mission Team concluded that the state of civil nuclear security in the UK is robust; both in the context of the legal and regulatory framework and how this is implemented at Sellafield site and Barrow. The team also identified many examples of good practice in the UK civil nuclear security regime and provided a number of valuable recommendations and suggestions.
	The IPPAS Mission Team's report is a security classified document that contains sensitive site-specific security information and it cannot be made publicly available.

Nuclear Installations: Safety

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to respond to the recommendations for specific actions by his Department made by HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations in his report on the implications of the Fukushima nuclear accident for the UK nuclear industry; and whether he has estimated the cost to his Department of implementation of all such recommendations.

Charles Hendry: As the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change noted in his written ministerial statement of 11 October 2011, Official Report, column 20WS, the Government intend to respond to Dr Weightman's recommendations in more detail by the end of the year.
	As with the response to Dr Weightman's interim report, we will set out what we have done, and what we intend to do, to address the recommendations most pertinent to Government.
	Nuclear safety is a top priority and as such any associated costs to the Department will be borne out of the overall departmental budget.

Nuclear Power: Foreign Investment in UK

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what reports he has received of interest expressed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation in supporting inward investment by Toshiba in the UK commercial nuclear power programme; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: We are aware that the Japan Bank for International Cooperation is interested in supporting Japanese industry investment in large-scale infrastructure projects globally.
	The consideration of any specific investment by Toshiba, or any other inward investor in the UK, would be a matter for the company themselves.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which representatives from the solar photovoltaic industry he consulted when drawing up his timetable for the implementation of and consultation on the new rates for solar photovoltaic tariffs.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 21 November 2011
	Ministers and officials meet regularly with a range of stakeholders from the solar photovoltaic industry.
	Details of meetings between DECC Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the DECC website.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the potential number of bankruptcies that will occur in the UK solar industry as a result of planned changes to feed-in tariffs.

Gregory Barker: The Department does not hold relevant information on which to base any estimate of potential bankruptcies. The impact assessment accompanying the Government's consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV), available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf
	estimates that new solar PV installations will continue to come forward under the proposed changes to FITs for solar PV. The impact assessment does not estimate the specific impact of the proposed changes on the UK solar industry as a whole.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost of (a) consultations and (b) fast track reviews on feed-in tariffs for solar PV has been since May 2010.

Gregory Barker: The central FITs team in DECC, with support from DECC economists and lawyers, and others where necessary, deals with all aspects of the feed-in tariffs scheme, including consultations and the reviews, so there are no separate costs available for these aspects of the FITs scheme.
	In addition £41,400 was paid for economic modelling to support the work of DECC economists.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Covenant

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department plans to (a) interpret and (b) apply the Military Covenant under the terms of the Armed Forces Act 2010.

Andrew Robathan: The previous Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), announced the publication of the new tri-service armed forces covenant on 16 May 2011, Official Report , columns 25-27, setting out the key relationships between the armed forces, the Government and the nation. The covenant set out the principles of removing disadvantage in the access to public and commercial services and making special provision in some circumstances. It sets a framework for policy making and delivery across Government and will improve the support available for the armed forces community.
	The new Armed Forces Act 2011 creates the requirement for an annual armed forces covenant report to Parliament. It specifies that the armed forces covenant report must cover the areas of health care, education, housing and inquests, as well as any other topics which the Secretary of State for Defence thinks appropriate. When considering what will be covered, the Secretary of State for Defence will have regard to the full range of topics which were identified as within the scope of the armed forces covenant when it was published.
	The statutory requirement for an annual armed forces covenant report comes into effect from 2012. However we plan to publish an interim report this year, which will provide a useful baseline for the statutory reports that will follow.

Defence Equipment and Support

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what budget his Department allocated for Defence Equipment and Support in the financial year 2011-12; how much of that budget has already been spent; and what estimate he has made of likely out-turn at the end of the financial year.

Peter Luff: The full year near cash budget for Defence Equipment and Support in financial year 2011-12, as at October 2011, is £150,201 million. As at October 2011, spend to date totalled £75,722 million and the current forecast for outturn at the end of the financial year is within budget allocation. Both figures exclude depreciation, write offs, urgent operational requirements and the net additional cost of military operations. Fully audited out-turn figures will be provided as part of the annual accounts.

Defence: Procurement

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original budget, (b) projected final cost, (c) expected timescale for delivery, (d) primary contractor and identity of additional consortium members are in relation to the Type 45 destroyer project.

Peter Luff: holding answer 15 November 2011
	As recorded in the Major Project Report 2011 recently published by the National Audit Office, the original projected cost for six Type 45 destroyers, including the Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) was approximately £4.75 billion. Currently, the forecasted final cost is approximately £5.66 billion. The in-service schedule for all six Type 45 destroyers is as follows:
	Daring: 2010
	Dauntless: 2010
	Diamond: 2011
	Dragon: 2012
	Defender: 2013
	Duncan: 2014.
	The Type 45 destroyers are not delivered by a consortium but by the prime contractor, BAE Systems Surface Ships. The PAAMS system is delivered and supported by MBDA.

Defence: Procurement

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original budget, (b) projected final cost, (c) expected timescales for delivery, (d) primary contractor and (e) identity of additional consortium members are in relation to the A400M project.

Peter Luff: holding answer 14 November 2011
	The initial approved cost for the A400M aircraft was £2.498 billion, and the current forecast cost to the UK of the A400M is £3.105 billion (including training and initial support). This increase is largely due to macro-economic factors including the foreign exchange rate against the Euro. The first UK A400M delivery is expected in September 2014 with the final UK aircraft delivery expected in September 2021. The A400M prime contractor is Airbus Military Sociedad Limitada. In addition to the United Kingdom, the other A400M partner nations are Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and Turkey.

Defence: Procurement

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original budget, (b) projected final cost, (c) expected timescales for delivery, (d) primary contractor and (e) identity of additional consortium members are in relation to the Terrier Project.

Peter Luff: holding answer 15 November 2011
	The original budgetary approval for Terrier was £304 million. The forecast final cost for demonstration and manufacture is some £328 million, which reflects the incorporation of customer driven requirement changes to ensure the vehicle can meet the operational challenges it is likely to face. The first 20 vehicles will be ready for operations in 2013, and all 60 will be in service by the end of 2014. The prime contractor is BAE Systems Global Combat Systems and the programme does not have any other consortium members.

Defence: Procurement

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original budget, (b) projected final cost, (c) expected timescales for delivery, (d) primary contractor and (e) identity of additional consortium members are in relation to the Land Environment Air Picture Provision project.

Peter Luff: holding answer 15 November 2011
	The original cash approval for the Land Environment Air Picture Provision (LEAPP) project was £138 million, final cash costs are projected to be £150 million. The cost growth is a result of a contractual claim settled and agreed between the prime contractor and the Ministry of Defence. For delivery, at the main gate decision point this was initially February 2012. At the most recent approval, delivery is now projected for September 2012. The primary contractor is Lockheed Martin UK, and there is no consortium.

Defence: Procurement

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original budget, (b) projected final cost, (c) expected timescales for delivery, (d) primary contractor and (e) identity of additional consortium members are in relation to the Chinook Project Julius.

Peter Luff: holding answer 15 November 2011
	The original approval for the Chinook Julius project Design and Manufacture (D and M) phase, for eight aircraft was £132 million. This initial requirement was subsequently expanded by £158 million to enable the Julius Cockpit to be integrated into the remainder of the current total Chinook fleet of 46 aircraft, giving a total budget of £290 million. The current expected outturn cost remains, at £290 million as of 31 October 2011. The first of these helicopters will be delivered to the RAF in December 2011.
	The prime contractor for the Chinook Julius D and M is The Boeing Company. They have sub-contracted the design of the cockpit system to Thales (UK) Ltd.

Lost Property

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has lost any (a) computers, (b) mobile phones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other IT equipment since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes any loss and theft of Communications and Information Systems (CIS) and associated media storage devices very seriously. We have robust procedures in place to mitigate against such occurrences and to manage such losses when they do occur. This is reflected in the level of detail we record, and our policy of including in our figures incidents when equipment may have been securely disposed of without the correct records being kept, where missing items are subsequently located and where incidents involve the loss of contractors' equipment which was being used to process Defence information.
	The size and complexity of the MOD, more than 250,000 individuals operating all round the world, from permanent bases and in theatre and with frequent movement of kit between locations in support of operations, means it is almost inevitable that equipment will go missing. Our challenge remains to reduce the number of such incidents and minimise the risk of any incident resulting in the loss of information by ensuring that devices are encrypted or where this is not possible that additional security measures are in place. Processes, instructions and technological aids are being continually reviewed, revised and implemented to mitigate human errors and further raise the awareness of every individual in the Department of their vital role protecting MOD information and assets.
	The following table details how many computers, mobile phones, BlackBerrys and other IT equipment have been reported lost or stolen since May 2010.
	
		
			 CIS asset Number 
			 Desktop computers 99 
			 Laptop computers (1)188 
			 Mobile phones 18 
			 BlackBerrys 10 
		
	
	
		
			 Disks (CD/DVD) 194 
			 Removable hard disk drives 72 
			 Printers 6 
			 Tapes (Backup) (2)150 
			 USB memory sticks 73 
			 Other IT(3) 135 
			 (1) Includes 21 laptops stolen in one incident during transit in Germany and 20 laptops reported lost in another incident which have subsequently been recovered. (2) Includes 80 legacy backup tapes unaccounted for in one incident. (3 )The majority of the “Other” category refers to USB tokens but it also includes radios, 3G cards, cameras, keyboards and monitors. 
		
	
	For comparison, using laptops as an example, 326 were lost in 2008 and 129 in 2009.

Departmental Pay

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department received a pay rise other than by promotion in the last two years; and what the average increase was in each such year.

Andrew Robathan: In financial year (FY) 2010-11, 51,603 employees who are covered by the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s main pay arrangements received a pay rise, which was the last year of a three-year pay deal agreed in 2008 under the previous Administration. The average increase was £1,259 (full-time equivalent). From FY 2011-12 these employees are subject to a two-year pay freeze except for those earning less than £21,000 per annum who are entitled to receive a pay increase of at least £250. For FY 2011-12, 24,518 employees earning less than £21,000 per annum received an increase of an average value of £357, which included an element for shortening the length of the pay scales.
	In addition to its main pay arrangements, the MOD has a number of separate pay arrangements covering specialist grades (such as fire service personnel, police, teachers, doctors and nurses) where pay is analogued to comparators in other Government Departments. In 2010-11, 4,988 employees were entitled to pay rises under these arrangements which included revalorisation and incremental progression under existing pay deals. The average increase was £1,160 (full-time equivalent). For FY 2011-12, 1,288 employees in this group received an average increase of £906. These employees are now subject to a two-year pay freeze in line with the arrangements for their comparators in other Government Departments.
	MOD trading funds, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and locally employed civilians working overseas have their own delegated arrangements for pay and grading and are excluded.

Departmental Redundancy

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civilian and (b) military redundancies his Department had forecasted would be made in the 12 months following the Strategic Defence and Security Review; and how many such redundancies were actually made.

Peter Luff: holding answer 23 November 2011
	The Strategic Defence and Security Review set a savings target equivalent to a reduction in the civilian workforce of 25,000, and a reduction of 17,000 posts in the regular armed forces by 31 March 2015. The Department's aim is that, so far as possible, those savings will be made without recourse to compulsory redundancy.
	For the civilian workforce, allowing for the effects of normal staff turnover and the current civil service recruitment restrictions, it was estimated that the Department would need to agree some 15,500 paid releases between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2014. Accordingly, a voluntary early release scheme was launched in February. By the end of October 2011, 2,589 individuals had left under this scheme. It is important to note that these are not redundancies.
	In respect of reductions within the armed forces, no specific forecast was made for the number of redundancies in Tranche 1, within the overall envelope of 3,600 posts within the different redundancy fields. Some 2,859 were selected for redundancy of whom 1,770 were applicants. Notifications were issued by the Army and Royal Air Force on 1 September 2011, with the Royal Navy following on 30 September 2011. Applicants were given six months' notice to leave and others 12 months. Further tranches are planned, with the second due to be under way in early 2012.

Departmental Reorganisation

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish his Department's organisational redesign strategy.

Philip Hammond: We have agreed the recommendations in Lord Levene’s Defence Reform report and are working on a detailed departmental blueprint setting out how we will implement them. This will be coming forward for ministerial consideration shortly. We will publish our conclusions once they have been agreed. We have already established the Defence Infrastructure Organisation in April 2011, Defence Business Services in July 2011, and we will set up the new Joint Forces Command in April 2012.

Germany: Military Bases

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much he expects his Department to save from the re-basing in the UK of troops based in Germany in each financial year until 2030.

Gerald Howarth: holding answer 22 November 2011
	We expect to make substantial savings as a result of returning forces currently based in Germany to the UK. The additional costs to the Ministry of Defence of stationing forces in Germany are at least £250 million a year in allowances and education and medical support. However, a detailed implementation plan for the return of British forces is in the process of being developed, so we do not yet have a profile for the delivery of savings as these additional costs are reduced.

Libya: Security

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Libya.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 22 November 2011
	We keep the security situation in Libya under close review. While we do not underestimate the significant challenges facing the Libyan authorities, our current assessment is that Libya remains largely stable.

Seedcorn Initiative

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many personnel are taking part in the Seedcorn initiative; what the location is of each; and with what equipment they are training;
	(2)  what capabilities are being maintained through the Seedcorn initiative;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the Seedcorn initiative in each of the next five years.

Gerald Howarth: The Seedcorn initiative will sustain the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s capability to operate high level fixed-wing Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and maintain the associated skills of its personnel. Qualified RAF aircrew will be on exchange with a variety of Allied MPA forces, where they will maintain their anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, long-range search and rescue, and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) skills.
	The estimated cost of the initiative on average is £2.4 million per year for the next five years; this includes salary and allowances.
	Retaining skills and MPA knowledge is vital if the United Kingdom is to be in a position to regenerate our own MPA capability at some point in the future.
	The number and location of personnel and equipment to be used is as follows:
	
		
			 Location  Aircraft Number of personnel 
			 Canada Royal Canadian Air Force Greenwood CP-140 Aurora 7 
			     
			 New Zealand Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Whenuapai P-3K Orion/P-3K2 Orion 5 
			  Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea Beech King Air B200 1 
			     
			 Australia Royal Australian Air Force Base Edinburgh AP-3C Orion 4 
			     
			 United States Naval Air Station Norfolk Non-flying appointment related to maritime operational staff duties. 1 
			  Naval Air Station Patuxent River P3C Orion 2 
		
	
	Additionally, discussions are ongoing with the US Navy on an exchange initiative for fully qualified RAF aircrew to support the US P-8A Poseidon programme.

Syria: Security

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on the security situation in Syria.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 22 November 2011
	I have discussed a range of security issues with a number of my NATO counterparts. In NATO, the North Atlantic Council has met informally to consider the situation in Syria in line with the emphasis the Alliance's Strategic Concept places on political consultations. However, the United Nations Security Council is the main forum for discussions on Syria.

Terrorism: Chemical and Biological Warfare

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement between the Government and NATO regarding Ministry of Defence sites as locations to receive victims in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack.

Andrew Robathan: I will write to the hon. Member.

Trident

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will publish all the evidence submitted to the Trident Alternatives Review on its completion;
	(2)  how the Government intends to take account of the Trident Alternatives Review once it is published.

Peter Luff: The review will report jointly to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Defence on 21 November 2011, Official Report, column 34W.

Trident

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he plans to take to update hon. and right hon. Members on the progress and cost of the Trident replacement programme during the remainder of the Parliament prior to Main Gate.

Philip Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 November 2011, Official Report, column 34W.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original budget, (b) projected final cost, (c) expected timescales for delivery, (d) primary contractor and (e) identity of additional consortium members are in relation to the Watchkeeper Surveillance System project.

Peter Luff: holding answer 22 November 2011
	The initial approved cost for the Watchkeeper project was £908 million and the forecast procurement costs are £904 million. These are reductions in the previously reported costs due to changes in the Ministry of Defence accounting procedures. The approved initial three year support cost for Watchkeeper is £55 million, with a current forecast cost of £53 million.
	Watchkeeper platforms will be delivered in the first quarter of 2012. Thales (UK) is the prime contractor on the Watchkeeper programme. Major subcontractors include Elbit Systems and UAS Tactical Systems Ltd; however Thales are not developing Watchkeeper as part of a consortium.

USA: Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the US Navy on the training of Royal Air Force personnel on the P-8 Poseidon aircraft.

Gerald Howarth: Discussions are progressing with the US Navy on an exchange initiative for fully qualified RAF aircrew to support the US P-8 Poseidon programme.

World War Two: Military Decorations

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he is giving to the creation of an official campaign medal for the veterans of the Second World War's Arctic Campaign.

Gerald Howarth: Contemporary medal papers make it clear that the convoys to north Russia were considered at the time that the qualifying criteria for the Second World War Campaign Stars and Medals were under discussion.
	From the outset, the qualifying criteria for the proposed Atlantic Star were designed to include recognition of service on the Russian convoys. The regulations for the Atlantic Star specifically allude to the Arctic convoys in the qualifying criteria.
	However, I gave assurances in Opposition regarding the award of a specific Arctic Convoy Medal and the Government recently agreed that there should be a fresh review of the rules governing the award of military medals. This will be conducted by an independent reviewer with full consultation with interested parties. It will make use of all of the work already undertaken as a part of the Ministry of Defence's earlier review but will have a broader scope and an independent lead, both of which are expected to be announced shortly.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to answer question 77412 tabled on 25 October 2011 for answer on 27 October 2011.

Andrew Robathan: I replied to the hon. Member today.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Food Security

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to improve food security in the UK.

Caroline Spelman: The Foresight report on the Future of Food and Farming identified the global challenges we face feeding an estimated population of 9 billion in 2050. The UK Government are working at home and abroad to increase resilience, promote open global markets, boost trade and ensure there will be more food, at less cost to the environment.

Farm Administration

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in reducing the administrative burden of inspection and regulation on farmers.

James Paice: In my written statement of 3 November 2011, Official Report, columns 40-41WS, I announced the publication of the interim response to the independent Farm Regulation Task Force. We will publish a final response early in 2012.

Animal Welfare

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce a unilateral ban on the import of eggs produced in contravention of the welfare of laying hens directive.

James Paice: The Government have thoroughly investigated the possibility of taking unilateral action and bringing in a UK ban on all imports of egg and egg products which have been produced in conventional cages in other member states. There are very significant legal and financial challenges in instigating a unilateral ban, but at this stage we are not ruling it out altogether. We will be announcing our enforcement strategy shortly.

Animal Welfare

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) her EU counterparts and (b) ministerial colleagues on the implementation of the welfare of laying hens directive.

James Paice: Discussions at an EU level are ongoing and the UK is fully engaged with the Commission, other member states and the devolved Administrations in finding a practical enforcement solution. We need to protect those producers across the EU, who will have complied with the ban, from the risk of competitive distortion in favour of those who will have maintained illegal production after 1 January 2012.

Housebuilding

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the building of houses in areas prone to flooding.

Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and his ministerial team. Our officials also meet regularly to discuss a wide range of issues.

Natural Environment White Paper

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made on the implementation of the plans set out in the Natural Environment White Paper.

Richard Benyon: The Natural Environment White Paper includes 92 commitments for action. Five months after publication, seven commitments are complete and significant progress has been made in: running the Nature Improvement Area competition; round one of the Local Nature Partnership capacity building fund; and in levels of interest in becoming pilot areas to test biodiversity off-setting.

Rural Broadband

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of poor broadband access on rural businesses.

Richard Benyon: There is evidence that businesses using the internet outperform those that do not, growing four to eight times faster. We recognise that lack of broadband availability hampers the potential of rural businesses and that is why the Government are investing £530 million to bring superfast broadband to 90% of the population in all local areas, with at least a functional level of access—two megabits per second—to the rest of the population by 2015.

Agricultural Land Tribunals

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the functions are of the Agricultural Land Tribunals.

James Paice: The Agricultural Land Tribunals (ALTs) play an important role in settling disputes and other issues between agricultural tenants and landlords arising from tenancy agreements held under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986. For example, ALTs consider applications:
	by close relatives of a deceased or retiring tenant to succeed to an agricultural tenancy;
	by landlords for consent to a notice to quit served on the tenant;
	by landlords for a certificate of bad husbandry on the ground that the tenant is not farming in accordance with the rules of good husbandry;
	by tenants for approval to carry out long-term improvements on the holding; and
	for a direction to provide fixed equipment.
	ALTs also have a role under the Land Drainage Act 1991 in considering certain drainage disputes between neighbours.

Agricultural Land Tribunals

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the expected (a) budget and (b) staffing levels will be for Agricultural Land Tribunals in each year to 2014-15.

James Paice: The administrative support for the Agricultural Land Tribunals transferred from DEFRA to Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service as from 31 October 2011. A budget transfer has been agreed between DEFRA and the Ministry of Justice of £115,000 per annum for each year of the spending review period until 2014-15. This includes an element for costs for the equivalent of 2.6 full-time staff.

Agriculture

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department plans to take to promote the sustainable intensification model of food production.

James Paice: In the recently published Natural Environment White Paper, the Government made a commitment to consider how we could increase food production while also enhancing the natural environment. This is being taken forward through the “Green Food Project”, which is a joint initiative between Government, the farming and food industry and environmental and consumer organisations.
	We want to ensure that the UK is making a contribution to the need for global food security and environmental improvement, and is demonstrating leadership in doing so.
	Working in partnership with other funders, industry and academics, DEFRA is delivering a co-ordinated framework for research and innovation through initiatives such as the Global Food Security Programme. We are also supporting a new Sustainable Agriculture and Food Innovation Platform for collaborative Research and Development funding with industry. This will stimulate the development of new technologies which will increase productivity while decreasing the environmental impact of the food and farming industries.
	DEFRA is working with businesses through the Courtauld Commitment and consumers through the Love Food Hate Waste initiative to tackle food waste, a commitment which was highlighted in the Government's recent Waste Policy Review 2011. Making the food chain more efficient through waste reduction measures will reduce pressure on resources, such as water and energy, required for food production, and will lower greenhouse gas emissions, therefore making a substantial contribution to producing more food with fewer resources.

Agriculture: Industrial Health and Safety

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the health and safety of agricultural workers.

James Paice: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has had no recent discussions with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on the health and safety of agricultural workers. Health and safety in the agriculture industry is a matter for HSE.
	The report of the Independent Farm Regulation Task Force published in May 2011 endorsed HSE's risk-based approach to inspection and its proactive approach to improving compliance. The steps HSE are taking to promote health and safety within the industry are detailed in the response from the Minister for Employment, Department for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), on 21 November 2011, Official Report, column 125W.

Common Agricultural Policy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact on farmers of proposed reforms to the common agricultural policy; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The European Commission published its draft regulatory proposals concerning the 2014-20 common agricultural policy on the 12 October, including an extensive impact assessment. The proposals were discussed for the first time in the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 20 October 2011, which the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), and I attended.
	The EU has an important opportunity to agree the genuine reforms needed to meet the long-term demands of the 21st Century. We are disappointed at the lack of ambition the Commission has shown in their CAP proposals. We do not believe the proposals will benefit the environment or have the long-term competitiveness of the industry in mind. They root agriculture in the past and fall short of addressing future challenges and opportunities ahead. The proposals fail to encourage the innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable actions that are essential—and in some ways work against these aims.
	DEFRA is currently considering the Council's documents in detail and will, as usual, meet with key stakeholder groups to assess the potential impact these may have on UK farm businesses. We will continue to discuss the proposals with devolved Ministers, and look forward to further discussions at European level. We will work constructively with member states, the Commission and—for the first time on CAP Reform—with the European Parliament to deliver the ambitious reform we believe is necessary.
	Negotiations on the proposals are under way but this is the start of a long and complex process which will take place alongside negotiations on the next Multi Annual Financial Framework 2014-20.

Flood Prevention

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her top three priorities for flood prevention are for 2012; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: Our priorities for managing flood risk remain those we set out in the programme for government. These are taking forward the findings of the Pitt review to improve our flood defences, avoiding unnecessary building in areas of high flood risk and maintaining an effective and robust capability to respond to flooding emergencies.

Food Supply

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress she has made on the implementation of the recommendations of “Food 2030”.

James Paice: “Food 2030”, published by the previous Government in January 2010, set out goals for food production and the supply chain, and the changes needed to achieve them. Many of the document's themes remain relevant and are still embedded into DEFRA's policy-making.
	Over the last year however DEFRA has been working with a new business plan that places a clear focus on the need to support a competitive, productive agriculture and food industry, alongside new commitments to environmental protection and enhancement of the environment. DEFRA has also welcomed the publication of the Foresight report on the Future of Food and Farming, which explores the pressures on the global food system between now and 2050. These pressures will undoubtedly influence our policy-making. To this aim, we are working with the food chain and other partners and across Government to ensure that we have a sustainable food system capable of dealing with a growing population and changing climate while protecting and enhancing the environment.
	One particular action we are taking forward in this area is the new “Green Food Project”. The project originated from a commitment we made in the Natural Environment White Paper in June 2011 to:
	“bring together government, industry and environmental partners to reconcile how we will achieve our goals of improving the environment and increasing food production” (NEWP page 24, paragraph 2.46).
	Our intention is that the project will generate conclusions in June 2012 which we can draw on to help us tackle the findings of the Foresight report, and create a more strategic framework for agri-food policy going forward.

Food Supply

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding her Department has allocated to the Skills Action Plan for the food supply chain in each year of the comprehensive spending review period.

James Paice: The Food Supply Chain Skills Action Plan was a collaborative effort involving Government, industry, the Institute of Grocery Distribution and a number of sector skills councils. While DEFRA facilitated it, and has one specific commitment to deliver, it does not fund the actions that the other participants have committed to.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish her Department's response to the consultation on greenhouse gas emissions.

James Paice: A public consultation looking at the options available for ensuring corporate reporting of greenhouse gas emissions are more widespread and consistent was held between 11 May and 5 July 2011.
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently considering the Government's response to the consultation and will make an announcement in the coming months.

Sheep Meat: Prices

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of recent trends in the price of lamb on the lamb industry.

James Paice: From 2007 to 2010 there has been a large increase in the ex-farm price of finished sheep, which rose from 237p/kg to 389p/kg.(1)
	The value from sheep and lamb production in the UK rose significantly from £641 million in 2007 to £958 million in 2009. The provisional figures for 2010 continue to show growth with an estimated value of £970 million.
	In this same period (2007-10) the production of sheep and lamb meat decreased by over 10%. There was a similar decline in the number of sheep (8%) over this period. However, the latest provisional UK results for 2011 show a 1% increase in the number of sheep and lambs to 31.4 million, the first increase since 2004.
	Movements in ex-farm prices and numbers of sheep, and the production costs, have a bearing on farm incomes in the sheep sector. DEFRA have published farm incomes for a range of farm types in England, including grazing livestock farms (lowland and LFA), for the year ending February 2011.
	(1 )GB finished sheep (pence per kg estimated dressed carcass weight) average price in each year.
	References
	Agriculture in the UK
	Table 5.15
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/files/defra-stats-foodfarm-crosscutting-auk-auk2010-110525.pdf
	June survey of Agriculture and Horticulture for the UK
	Table 9—Sheep and Lambs
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/files/defra-stats-foodfarm-landuselivestock-june-statsnotice-uk-111006.pdf
	June survey time series
	UK Livestock numbers 1866 to present
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/foodfarm/landuselivestock/junesurvey/junesurveyresults/
	Farm Business Survey results
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/foodfarm/farmmanage/fbs/publications/fbsincomes/

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Embassies: Opening Hours

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to advertise his policy on out-of-hours consular assistance more widely on his Department's website.

Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides 24-hour support to British nationals in difficulty abroad through its consular staff abroad and in London. This support is described in our publication “Support for British nationals abroad: A guide”, which is available on the FCO website at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/2855621/support-for-british-nationals-abroad.pdf
	The Travel and Living Abroad pages on the FCO website provide clear details of how to contact our staff 24 hours a day, specifically at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/when-things-go-wrong/
	and:
	www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/contact
	The FCO's 24 hour telephone number is also carried on all consular leaflets and publications. Facebook users can link directly to the "find an Embassy" facility on the FCO website. British nationals contacting a British embassy, high commission or consulate out of office hours will be redirected to the FCO's global response centre and charged a local rate for their call.

Embassies: Opening Hours

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on out-of-hours consular assistance by UK consulates; and whether it has changed in the last 18 months.

Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides 24-hour support to British nationals in difficulty abroad through its consular staff abroad and in London. This support is described in our publication “Support for British nationals abroad: A guide”, which is available on the FCO website at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/2855621/support-for-british-nationals-abroad.pdf
	The Travel and Living Abroad pages on the FCO website provide details of how to contact our staff 24 hours a day, specifically at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/when-things-go-wrong/
	and:
	www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/contact
	The FCO's 24 hour telephone number is also carried on all consular leaflets and publications. Facebook users can link directly to the “find an Embassy” facility on the FCO website.
	The FCO's global response centre (GRC) was launched on 1 April 2009. This changed the way we deliver consular assistance outside of normal office hours. British nationals contacting a British embassy, high commission or consulate out of office hours are redirected to the GRC and charged a local rate for their call. The GRC will handle the majority of inquiries directly. Those that require the urgent attention of a consular officer abroad will be passed to the relevant British embassy, high commission or consulate, so that a consular officer can attend. Such cases might include the death of a British national in custody; rape or sexual assault; kidnaps; and cases involving vulnerable groups such as children or elderly people; and issuing emergency travel documents (ETDs) in cases of genuine emergency such as the death or serious illness of a relative requiring urgent travel.

Kurds: Syria

Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the position of the Kurds in Syria. [R]

Alistair Burt: Syrian Kurds continue to suffer discrimination by the Assad regime. Although the Syrian authorities recently announced a review of the 1962 census, which had revoked the nationality of thousands of Syrian Kurds, around 300,000 of the 1.7 million Kurds living in Syria are still without citizenship. We hear regular reports of arbitrary arrests, violations of Kurdish property rights, and deaths of Kurds in military service. The teaching of Kurdish is prohibited and Kurdish festivals are disrupted by the security services.
	During his meeting with members of Syria's opposition on 21 November, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs urged opposition representatives to unite around a common political platform that will enable the people of Syria to see a pathway to a clear alternative to dictatorship and repression. He particularly stressed the importance of respecting the rights of minorities, so that all Syria's citizens are protected and have a stake in the future of the country.

Libya: Asylum

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the number of Libyan refugees on or near Libyan borders.

Andrew Mitchell: I have been asked to reply.
	The latest UN estimate, dating from mid October, registered approximately 9,500 Libyan nationals' as refugees in Tunisia, mostly in the southern governorate of Tataouine. This number is down from the 13,000 refugees that had been registered by the UN in early September. We remain in close contact with the UN refugees agency (UNHCR) to monitor the situation at the Libyan borders.

Lord's Resistance Army

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions officials of his Department have had with their counterparts in the US administration on its announcement on sending armed military advisers to assist in the fight against the Lord's Resistance Army; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: Officials in my Department have had a number of discussions on this matter with their US counterparts, about the terms and the objectives of this deployment.
	The UK welcomes and shares the commitment of the US to help bring the Lord's Resistance Army's (LRA) campaign of atrocities to a sustainable end, including through our support to the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Disarmament, Demobilisation, Rehabilitation, Repatriation and Reconciliation programmes, and our significant humanitarian support to LRA affected areas. As an active member of the International Working Group (IWG) on the LRA, and through our work with partners at the UN Security Council, we are working to improve co-ordination of the international response, and ensure that civilians are afforded maximum protection.
	We also call upon the remaining LRA fighters to surrender to local military forces, and for the UN to continue its work to return and reintegrate these fighters back into their home communities.

Palestine: Peace Negotiations

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Palestinian National Authority on returning to peace negotiations as soon as possible.

Alistair Burt: We continue to reiterate our calls for negotiations towards a two state solution based on the timetable set out in the Quartet Statement of 23 September. We regularly emphasise the importance of efforts towards a negotiated solution with the Palestinian National Authority.
	The UK continues to be one of the principal supporters of Palestinian state building efforts, assisting them to tackle poverty, build institutions and boost their economy.
	We will continue to engage with the Palestinian leadership and to reinforce the importance of working towards a two-state solution.

Strategic Shrinkage

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria his Department uses to (a) define and (b) quantify strategic shrinkage.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office regards strategic shrinkage as a reduction in Britain's diplomatic network and our ability to build productive relationships which further our national interests.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Crisis Loans

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many budgeting loan acceptances have been sent out by his Department in the six months to 31 August 2011; and how many such acceptances have been received by his Department (a) within the qualifying time and (b) too late.

Steve Webb: Information relating to the number of budgeting loans offered to claimants by the Department and the number of such offers that are accepted is not gathered. Information is available as to the number of budgeting loan applications, initial decisions, awards and refusals.
	Please see the following table for the six month period from March 2011 to August 2011.
	
		
			 Number of applications and initial awards March 2011 to August 2011 
			  Number 
			 Applications 757,600 
			   
			 Initial Awards 525,900 
			 Initial Decisions 757,900 
			 Initial Refusals 211,300 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are from March 2010-11 to August 2011-12 2. Figures are for applications received, not for the number of people who made an application, and for initial awards made, not the number of people who received an initial award. (Some people made more than one application or received more than one initial award.) 3. Figures for initial decisions are based on the applications processed. 4. Figures rounded to the nearest 100. 5. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, it does not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System 
		
	
	The difference between applications received, initial decisions, initial awards, and initial refusals is due to: applications being withdrawn; applicants rejecting or not responding to loan offers; and applications not decided at the time the count was made.
	Where a budgeting loan offer is accepted but returned late, it may still be paid where there is good reason for the delay. If there is no good reason for the delay the applicant is invited to resubmit their application. The Department does not hold information about the number of responses to loan offers that are made late.

Crisis Loans

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 554W, on crisis loans, whether he has made an assessment of the factors underlying the increase in defaults in March 2011.

Steve Webb: There has been no change to the policy for crisis loan defaults during 2010-11. There was a purge in March in the system maintenance on deceased records and this accounts for the associated increase in default loans during that month.

Crisis Loans

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what will replace crisis loan alignment payments for non-claimants of universal credit from April 2013; and which official body or bodies will be responsible for making such awards.

Steve Webb: The current Welfare Reform Bill contains provisions which will enable crisis loans for alignment to be replaced by payment on account short-term advances from April 2013 for both universal credit and all current benefits. These advances will be made at the discretion of the Secretary of State and administered by Jobcentre Plus and Pensions, Disability and Carers Service.

Disability Living Allowance

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the report of the Low Review, page 10, what consideration he has given to the finding that the mobility component of disability living allowance is key to meeting the personal mobility needs of care home providers.

Maria Miller: When we announced that we would not remove the mobility component of disability living allowance from people in residential care from October 2012, we said we would review the position in personal independence payment. This is precisely what we have done. We are now considering the findings of the recently published review into provision for the mobility needs of care home residents by the noble Lord, Lord Low, before we announce our final decision.

Disability: Transport

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the level of financial assistance for disabled people who cannot use public transport to get to work; and what his policy is on (a) means-testing and (b) regionally evaluating such assistance.

Maria Miller: The Access to Work programme may be able to provide financial assistance for disabled people unable to use public transport to get to work. Individual disabled people make an application for assistance and then will discuss with an Access to Work adviser the type and level of support needed. The support that is offered differs for each individual and is tailored to meet the disabled person's specific needs.
	Access to Work is a discretionary programme and not a formal benefit and is not means tested.
	Information on the number of disabled people using Access to Work and the type of support they receive is available broken down to regional level.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the affordable rent model for social housing rents on the number of households who would be subject to the household benefit cap in each of the next five years.

Steve Webb: The new affordable rent product will allow social landlords to charge rents at up to 80% of local market rents. When setting rents, it is expected that providers will, where possible, utilise the flexibility to charge rents at 80% of local market rents in order to maximise delivery of new homes, but landlords should take into account a number of factors, including the proposed reforms of the welfare system.
	It is not possible to assess robustly the impact of the affordable rent model on the number of households who might be subject to the benefit cap because it is dependent on the behavioural decisions of housing providers, and the individual circumstances of future tenants.
	My officials will work very closely with those responsible for the Government's affordable rent policy at the Department for Communities and Local Government in introducing the benefit cap.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of householders who would become subject to the household benefit cap if they were to become unemployed after entering an affordable rent tenancy.

Chris Grayling: This information is not available as the Department can make no estimate of the number of people who might become unemployed after entering an affordable rent tenancy.

Jobcentre Plus: Argyll and Bute

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalent staff were in post in each Job Centre office in Argyll and Bute constituency (a) on the most recent date for which figures are available and (b) at the end of each of the last five years.

Chris Grayling: The following table gives the number of full-time equivalents in each Jobcentre in the Argyll and Bute constituency as at August 2011, being the latest published data available, and as at March in each of the last five years, with March being the end of the operational and financial year for which staffing is recorded.
	
		
			  Number of full-time equivalents 
			 Jobcentre March 2007 March 2008 March 2009 March 2010 March 2011 August 2011 
			 Campbeltown 11 10 7 9 9 8 
			 Dunoon 7 10 11 14 12 11 
			 Helensburgh 9 8 8 13 12 11 
			 Oban 18 16 14 14 13 14 
			 Rothesay 7 6 4 8 7 6 
			 Total 52 50 44 57 52 49

Pensions

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of uprating pension credit using a consumer prices index level of (a) 2.5, (b) 3, (c) 3.1, (d) 3.5, (e) 4, (f) 4.3, (g) 4.5, (h) 4.6, (i) 4.9, (j) 5.1 and (k) 5.2 per cent. in 2012-13.

Steve Webb: The information is in the table.
	
		
			 Percentage increase Cost (£ million) 
			 (a ) 2.5 470 
			 (b) 3.0 560 
			 (c) 3.1 580 
			 (d) 3.5 650 
			 (e) 4.0 750 
			 (f) 4.3 800 
			 (g) 4.5 840 
			 (h) 4.6 860 
			 (i) 4.9 920 
			 (j) 5.1 950 
			 (k) 5.2 970 
			 Notes: 1. Costing based on DWP budget 2011 expenditure forecasts. 2. Costs are rounded to the nearest £10 million. 3. Costs are compared to a baseline of no uprating and are indicative only. Proposed benefit rates will be announced to Parliament by ministerial statement later in the autumn. 4. The costing assumes that housing benefit and council tax benefit rates are aligned with those for pension credit.

Pensions

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of people who would be disadvantaged if the roll-out of auto-enrolment into pensions at work were to be deferred by two years.

Steve Webb: The Department estimates that between 9 million and 10 million people are eligible for automatic enrolment and are not currently saving in a qualifying workplace pension scheme. Delaying automatic enrolment for two years would mean these individuals would forego the opportunity to save in a workplace pension scheme for those two years.

Pensions

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of people who would be eligible for auto-enrolment into pensions at work if companies with 10 or fewer employees were exempted.

Steve Webb: The Department estimates that between 9 million and 10 million people are eligible for automatic enrolment and are not currently saving in a qualifying workplace pension scheme. If companies with 10 or fewer employees were exempted, this would reduce the number of people eligible by between 2 million and 3 million, resulting in an estimate of around 7 million people eligible for automatic enrolment.

Child Poverty

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 4 April 2011, Official Report, column 594W, on children: poverty, what progress he has made in the establishment of the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission; whether its remit has changed from that set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: As we announced in the Child Poverty and Social Mobility Strategies published on 5 April 2011, we are using the Welfare Reform Bill to make the necessary changes to the Child Poverty Act 2010 to create a Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission. The Bill is currently at Committee Stage in the House of Lords. The Commission will be established as soon as possible following Royal Assent.
	We believe that the Commission must be an effective public body, which improves accountability and thus helps to drive progress towards the 2020 goal to eradicate child poverty. It should also assist Government in improving social mobility in the UK. We want to achieve these aims by expanding the Commission's remit to include social mobility and by giving the Commission the power to publish annual progress reports on child poverty and social mobility.

Child Poverty

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the number of school-age children in England living in poverty;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of school pupils in England aged between four and 16 living in poverty.

Maria Miller: Estimates of the number and proportion of children living in poverty are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household income adjusted (or “equivalised”) for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living.
	Statistics covering 2009-10 are the most recent available.
	The following tables show the number and proportion of all children aged 4 to 16 who were in households with equivalised disposable income below 60% of contemporary median income Before Housing Costs (BHC). School-age children have been included in the age range 4 to 16 using the definition for a child from the HBAI series.
	
		
			 Table 1: Numbers and proportions of children aged 4 to 16 living in relative poverty (BHC) 
			  Number (million) Proportion (%) 
			 Children aged 4-16 1.7 19 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Numbers and proportions of school pupils aged 4 to 16 living in relative poverty (BHC) 
			  Number (million) Proportion (%) 
			 Children aged 4-16 1.5 19 
			 Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data available at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=hbai_arc 2. Data are sourced from the Family Resources Survey and covers Great Britain up to 1997-98 and the United Kingdom from 1998-99, with estimates for Northern Ireland imputed for the years 1998-99 through 2001-02. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. 3. Disposable household income is adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 4. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 5. Numbers of people in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest 100,000, while proportions have been rounded to the nearest percentage point. 6. Figures have been presented on a Before Housing Cost (BHC) basis. For BHC figures, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, buildings insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income. 7. The household level poverty threshold is defined as the 60% of contemporary median equivalised disposable household income. 8. A dependent child is defined in HBAI as an individual aged under 16. A person will also be defined as a child if they are 16 to 19 years old and they are: not married nor in a civil partnership nor living with a partner; and living with parents; and in full-time non-advanced education or in unwaged government training. 9. School-age children have been included in the age range 4 to 16 using the definition of a child from HBAI given in point 8. 10. Children have been defined as school pupils if they are attending a primary school (including reception class); special school; middle-deemed primary; middle-deemed secondary; secondary/grammar school; or any private school (preparatory or secondary). These may be state run or assisted. This classification is independent of the type of qualification being taken forward. The main difference between the populations are four-year-olds not having started primary school yet and 16-year-olds who are in non-advanced further education not being counted as school pupils. Children being home schooled have also not been counted as school pupils. 11. The Child Poverty Act 2010 sets three further income-based UK-wide targets to be met by 2020. The targets are based on the proportion of children living in households with combined low income and material deprivation, absolute low income and persistent poverty. Source: Households Below Average Income 1994/95-2009/10, DWP.

Social Security Benefits

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many (a) women, (b) men and (c) pensioners are entitled to (i) attendance allowance, (ii) carer's allowance, (iii) council tax benefit, (iv) dependency increases, (v) disability living allowance, (vi) employment and support allowance, (vii) housing benefit, (viii) incapacity benefit, (ix) income support, (x) industrial injuries disablement benefit, (xi) jobseeker's allowance, (xii) maternity allowance, (xiii) pension credit, (xiv) the Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases scheme and the Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation), (xv) state pension, (xvi) severe disablement allowance, (xvii) statutory adoption pay, (xviii) statutory maternity pay, (xix) statutory paternity pay, (xx) statutory sick pay, (xxi) widow's benefit and (xxii) bereavement benefit;
	(2)  if he will estimate the cost of uprating (a) attendance allowance, (b) carer's allowance, (c) council tax benefit, (d) dependency increases, (e) disability living allowance, (f) employment and support allowance, (g) housing benefit, (h) incapacity benefit, (i) income support, (j) industrial injuries disablement benefit, (k) jobseeker's allowance, (l) maternity allowance, (m) pension credit, (n) the Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases scheme and the Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation), (o) state pension, (p) severe disablement allowance, (q) statutory adoption pay, (r) statutory maternity pay, (s) statutory paternity pay, (t) statutory sick pay, (u) widow's benefit and (v) bereavement benefit for 2012-13 by (i) 2.5, (ii) 4.3 and (iii) 5.3 per cent.

Steve Webb: The information is tabled as follows:
	
		
			 Benefit entitlement (1) 
			 Benefit Total claimants Males Females Pensioners (2) Number of claimants with a partner 
			 AA 1,760,620 571,910 1,188,700 1,760,620 n/a 
			 CA 1,020,120 341,240 678,880 418,990 n/a 
			 DLA 3,231,330 1,621,050 1,610,280 1,061,010 n/a 
			 ESA 662,230 362,640 299,600 — 93,410 
			 IB/SDA 1,946,200 1,095,910 850,280 37,470 22,150 
			 IS 1,703,220 592,560 1,110,660 — 224,250 
			 JSA 1,404,140 946,100 458,040 — 153,570 
			 PC 2,674,670 1,051,670 1,622,990 — 599,080 
			 SP 12,616,240 4,871,260 7,744,980 12,616,240 n/a 
			 WB 44,000 n/a 44,000 — n/a 
			 BB 64,770 18,590 46,180 — n/a 
			 MA 54,800 n/a 54,800 — n/a 
			 IIDB 270,380 217,770 52,620 141,090 n/a 
			 Pre-1948 schemes:      
			 WC 80 70 10 80 n/a 
			 PBM 80 Total 60 20 80 n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  Total claimants (3) Single males Single females Number of couples Pensioners (2) 
			 HB 4,909,510 1,371,950 2,503,550 1,023,240 1,279,120 
			 CTB 5,860,150 1,399,060 2,986,590 1,461,510 2,210,160 
		
	
	
		
			 n/a = not available/not applicable ‘—’ = nil or negligible (1 )Caseload figures used for Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Carer's Allowance include those cases with entitlement but where payment is currently suspended (for example because of an extended stay in hospital or an overlapping benefit). Caseloads for Incapacity Benefit and Employment Support Allowance include Credits Only cases. (2) IIDB claimants pensioners are defined as women over 60 and men over 65. HB/CTB pensioners are defined as those cases where either the claimant is aged 65 and over (single people) or the elder of the claimant or partner is aged 65 or over (couples). For all other benefits pensioners are defined as those over state pension age. The age at which women reach state pension age will gradually increase from 60 to 65 between April 2010 and April 2020. This will introduce a small increase to the number of working age benefit recipients and a small reduction to the number of pension age recipients. Figures from May 2010 onwards reflect this change. (3) HB/CTB: Gender is not recorded for a large number of cases. Claimants with unknown gender are excluded from the analysis. For this reason the number of single and couples in the above table do not sum to the total number of claimants. Key: AA = Attendance Allowance CA = Carer's Allowance DLA = Disability Living Allowance ESA = Employment and Support Allowance IB/SDA = Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance IS = Income Support JSA = Jobseeker's Allowance PC = Pension Credit SP = State Pension WB = Widow's Benefit BB = Bereavement Benefit MA = Maternity Allowance (MA) claimants, Great Britain: May 2011. IIDB = Industrial Injuries Death Benefit WC = Workmen's Compensation PBM = Pneumoconiosis Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases: March 2011 HB/CTB = Housing Benefit /Council Tax Benefit: August 2011 Notes: 1. WPLS 100% and SHBE 100% data is rounded to the nearest 10 and 5% sample data to the nearest 100. 2. The partner information is based on the payment of additional benefit which is paid for a partner. 3. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 4. Caseload data are available on the Department's tabulation tool at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html 5. Pension Credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced Minimum Income Guarantee (Income Support for people aged 60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the Minimum Income Guarantee transferred to Pension Credit in October 2003. These Pension Credit statistics are produced on a different basis to the Early Estimates. The latter are more timely but operational processing times mean that a number of claim commencements and terminations are not reflected in them. 6. IIDB caseloads exclude Reduced Earnings Allowance cases. Sources: IIDB, WC ,PBM: DWP Information Governance and Security Directorate 100% scan Maternity Allowance: DWP Information Governance and Security Directorate 5% sample data. Housing Benefit: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) All other benefits: DWP Information Governance and Security Directorate 100% Works and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 
		
	
	
		
			 Cost of uprating 
			 £ million 
			  Percentage uprating 
			  (i) 2.5 (ii) 4.3 (iii) 5.3 
			 Attendance Allowance 140 240 290 
			 Carer's Allowance 40 80 90 
			 Council Tax Benefit 10 10 10 
		
	
	
		
			 Dependency increases * * * 
			 Disability Living Allowance 320 540 670 
			 Employment and Support Allowance 150 260 320 
			 Housing Benefit 20 40 50 
			 Incapacity Benefit 40 60 80 
			 Income Support 120 210 260 
			 Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit 20 40 50 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance 110 190 230 
			 Maternity Allowance 10 10 20 
			 Pension Credit 360 630 770 
			 Pneumoconiosis Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases scheme and the Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation) * * * 
			 State Pension 2,060 3,620 4,490 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance 20 40 50 
			 Statutory Maternity Pay 30 70 90 
			 Statutory Sick Pay * * * 
			 Bereavement benefits 10 20 30 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are in cash terms, rounded to the nearest £10 million. 2. Figures less than £10 million are denoted by ‘*’. 3. Effects in income-related benefits (CTB, ESA, HB, IS, JSA and PC) include offsetting effects from income from other benefits being brought to account. 4. Bereavements benefits includes Widow's Benefit. 5. Cost are based on Budget 2011 forecasts. 6. Costs are compared to a baseline of no uprating and are indicative only. Proposed benefit rates will be announced to Parliament by ministerial statement later in the autumn.

Welfare Reform Bill

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the Scottish Parliament's request for oral evidence on the Welfare Reform Bill.

Chris Grayling: Neither the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, nor any Ministers in the Department, have had any direct discussions with the Secretary of State for Scotland, about the Scottish Parliament's request for oral evidence on the Welfare Reform Bill.
	However, the Department keeps in regular contact with the Scottish Government on the subject of welfare reform at both ministerial and official levels.
	Officials in the Department contacted the Scotland Office to discuss the invitations received to appear before Scottish Committees.
	One of the Department's senior officials gave evidence on the Welfare Reform Bill to the Health and Sport Committee on 22 November 2011.

Welfare Reform: Chronic Pain

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to take into account the situation of people living with (a) chronic pain and (b) other conditions that are not physically evident in his proposals for welfare reform.

Maria Miller: We do not believe it right that we should judge people purely on the type of health condition or impairment that they may have. As such neither the work capability assessment nor the assessment for personal independence payment which we are currently developing, focus on the health condition or impairment a claimant has, neither do they require a specific diagnosis. Instead they look at the impact of these and their symptoms, such as pain, on individuals. The work capability assessment focuses on the impact of health conditions or impairments on capability for work, while the assessment for personal independence payment will focus on their impact on ability to carry out a series of key everyday activities.
	In both assessments, basing decisions on the best available evidence is critical. This means giving the claimant the opportunity to tell us about the impact of their health condition or impairment in their own words and considering evidence from others involved in supporting claimants, such as GPs, hospital specialists or carers. In most cases, this will also involve a face-to-face assessment with a health professional trained in disability assessment medicine, to explore claimants' individual circumstances in detail. This ensures that decisions take effective account of the impact of health conditions or impairments, regardless of their type.

Work Capability Assessment

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Atos work capability assessments took over 35 days in (a) England and (b) Makerfield constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: In October 2011 the number of Atos work capability assessments taking over 35 days was:
	(a) in England 63,706;
	(b) of which 741 were completed at Wigan MEC which is the nearest Medical Examination Centre to Makerfield constituency.
	Work capability assessments include employment support allowance (ESA) assessments which have an average actual clearance time (AACT) target of 35 days and other assessments which do not.

Work Capability Assessment

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were refused employment and support allowance following an assessment carried out by Atos and subsequently appealed the decision in (a) England and (b) Makerfield constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: Decisions on entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA) using the work capability assessment (WCA) rest solely with the Department's decision makers taking into account the medical assessment reports from Atos and any other relevant information.
	Table 1 provides details of initial WCAs completed and appeals heard for claims starting between October 2008 and August 2010 (the latest data for which sufficient volumes of appeals have been heard for publication). Information is not available at parliamentary constituency level, so information for Wigan local authority has been given instead.
	
		
			 Table 1: Outcomes of initial work capability assessment and appeals for England and Wigan local authority for claims starting between October 2008 and August 2010 
			  England Wigan local authority 
			 All completed WCAs 609,100 5,500 
			 Fit for work 373,500 3,300 
			 Assessed as fit for work (percentage) 61 61 
			 Appeals heard(1) 142,100 1,200 
			 Fit for work with an appeal heard(1) (percentage) 38 38 
			 (1) To date. Notes: 1. The Department regularly publishes official statistics on the employment and support allowance (ESA) work capability assessment at the national level. The latest report, published in October 2011 and can be found here: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca 2. The data presented above comes from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions, functional assessment data from Atos Healthcare and appeals data from the Tribunals Service. 3. Data on appeals includes ESA claims started from October 2008 up to the end of August 2010 (the latest month where we have sufficient volumes of appeals heard to include in the publication) where the person claiming has been assessed to be Fit for Work, they subsequently appeal the Department's decision and the appeal has been heard by Tribunals Service. 4. Due to the time it takes for appeals to be submitted to the Tribunals Service and heard, it is likely that there are more appeals that have not yet been heard. Therefore these figures should be treated as emerging findings rather than final at this stage. 5. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100 and are consistent with the official statistics publication referred to in note 1. above.

Work Capability Assessment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen South (Dame Anne Begg) of 1 November 2011, Official Report, columns 523-4W, on work capability assessment, if he will publish the data on the number of work capability assessments for reassessed incapacity benefit claimants which were carried out in each week since February 2011.

Chris Grayling: Up to the week commencing 14 November 191,000 work capability assessments (WCA) resulting from reassessment had been completed. After the WCA, the decision on entitlement to benefit is taken by a DWP decision maker.
	No official statistics are available on WCA completed for IB reassessment claimants so the information on the number of WCA completed above is from the Department's Management Information System. It relates to those assessments where Atos have made a recommendation based on either a face to face assessment or cleared by scrutiny of the customer's medical questionnaire. It does not include those customers whose WCA recommendations were returned to Jobcentre Plus because they had not complied with the process.
	A weekly or monthly breakdown of the Management Information is not reliable because the data are captured cumulatively. Therefore assessments undertaken within one week might only be updated in the data as completed in subsequent weeks.
	Due to the overall length of the incapacity benefits reassessment process, information on the entire process including the final outcomes and subsequent destinations of claimants being reassessed is not yet available. The Department plans to publish data on the outcomes of the reassessment process, but only once it has been quality assured and is considered robust.

JUSTICE

Child Protection

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the possible implications for (a) Criminal Records Bureau checks and (b) child protection of the extension of the Shared Accommodation Rate of Local Housing Allowance to (i) 25 to 34 year olds who are (1) parents with part-custody of their children and (2) women up until the latest stage of pregnancy and (ii) other 25 to 34 year olds; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply.
	It is not possible to assess any increased risk to children by extending the age threshold of the shared accommodation rate. Criminal Record Bureau checks are not appropriate in these circumstances and so we do not anticipate there being any implications for these.

Community Orders

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 10 November 2011, Official Report, column 423W, on community orders: voluntary organisations, if he will consider the merits of allowing (a) charities and (b) community amateur sports clubs the opportunity to claim dispensation from charges of community payback fees by the probation authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The voluntary sector, including charities and sports clubs, is the largest single beneficiary of Community Payback work. The majority of beneficiary organisations are not currently required to make a contribution to the cost of offender supervision. Where probation trusts, and in future potentially other providers of Community Payback, do seek a contribution towards costs, due regard will be given to the circumstances of the organisation which benefits from the work. There needs to be a proper balance between these organisation's circumstances and the need for Community Payback to work for society as a whole; preventing a disproportionate charge on the taxpayer; and preventing consumption of resources that could be directly targeted on services for direct victims of crime.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what budget his Department allocated to the (a) Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council, (b) Assessor for Compensation for Miscarriages of Justice, (c) Civil Justice Council, (d) Civil Procedure Rule Committee, (e) Criminal Cases Review Commission, (f) Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, (g) Criminal Procedure Rule Committee, (h) Crown Court Rule Committee, (i) Family Justice Council, (j) HM Inspectorate of Prisons, (k) HM Inspectorate of Probation, (l) Insolvency Rules Committee, (m) Judicial Appointments Commission, (n) Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman, (o) Judicial Office, (p) Law Commission, (q) Legal Services Board, (r) Legal Services Commission, (s) National Offender Management Service, (t) Probation Service, (u) Court Funds Office, (v) Office of the Information Commissioner, (w) Office for Judicial Complaints, (x) Legal Ombudsman, (y) Office of the Public Guardian, (z) Official Solicitor and Public Trustee, (aa) Parole Board, (ab) Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, (ac) Sentencing Council, (ad) Tribunal Procedure Committee, (ae) Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses and (af) Youth Justice Board in the financial year 2011-12.

Kenneth Clarke: The resource budget allocations for 2011-12, as at 31 October 2011, are as follows:
	
		
			 Organisation/body £000 
			 Administrate Justice and Tribunals Council 682 
			 Criminal Cases Review Committee 6,050 
			 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority 200,200 
			 HM Inspectorate of Prisons 3,634 
			 HM Inspectorate of Probation 3,848 
			 Judicial Appointments Commission 5,520 
			 Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman 534 
			 Judicial Office 19,524 
			 Law Commission 3,165 
			 Legal Services Commission 2,251,400 
			 National Offender Management Service 2,801,647 
			 Probation Service 820,000 
			 Office of the Information Commissioner 4,586 
			 Office of the Public Guardian (457) 
			 Official Solicitor and Public Trustee 5,158 
			 Parole Board 10,014 
			 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 5,546 
			 Sentencing Council 1,620 
			 Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses 1,100 
			 Youth Justice Board 393,939 
		
	
	The final budget may vary depending on actual expenditure and the Ministry's priorities.
	The Office of the Public Guardian is currently budgeting to receive more income than its expenditure. This is reflected in the organisation's budget.
	Budgets for the following bodies are part of larger budgets within the core Department for which no distinct budget allocation is made.
	Assessor for Compensation for Miscarriages of Justice
	Civil Procedure Rule Committee
	Criminal Procedure Rule Committee
	Insolvency Rules Committee
	Court Funds Office
	Tribunal Procedure Committee.
	Budgets for the following bodies are now part of the Judicial Office budget quoted above:
	Civil Justice Council
	Family Justice Council
	Office for Judicial Complaints.
	In respect of the following bodies the cost is neutral because these bodies are funded by levies upon the legal profession:
	Legal Services Board
	Legal Ombudsman.
	As at 31 October 2011, no resource budget allocation has been provided to the Crown Court Rule Committee.

Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of employment and support allowance appeals have been adjourned since 28 February 2011; and how many such appeals were classified category used in social security and child support appeal tribunals.

Jonathan Djanogly: Appeals against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions on an individual's entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA) are heard by the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support).
	A total of 12,565 ESA appeals were adjourned between 1 March 2011 and 30 September 2011 (the latest date for which statistics have been published); 11.3% of the total number of ESA appeals listed.
	There are four adjournment categories used in SSCS tribunals and the adjourning judge determines the most appropriate category for the case being dealt with. The following table shows a breakdown of the reasons for adjournments in this time period:
	
		
			 Appeals adjourned March to September 2011 
			 Adjournment r eason as recorded at hearing Number of appeals Percentage 
			 Tribunal Not Ready to Proceed 197 2 
			 Administrators Not Ready to Proceed 524 4 
			 Applicant Not Ready to Proceed 3,868 31 
			 First Tier Agency Not Ready to Proceed 7,976 63 
			 Total 12,565 100 
		
	
	Some examples of the circumstances under which the four categories may be used, are as follows:
	Tribunal not ready to proceed
	Where the Tribunal requires additional evidence.
	Where an applicant was known to a tribunal panel member.
	Administrators not ready to proceed
	Failure by administrative staff to provide sufficient notice of the appeal hearing.
	Failure to observe a previous direction given by a judge.
	Arrangement of incorrect panel composition.
	Applicant not ready to proceed
	Where the applicant requests more time to submit evidence or appoint a representative.
	The applicant is unable, due to medical or other reasons, to continue with the hearing.
	First-tier Agency not ready to proceed
	The submission from the Agency is incomplete/defective or illegible.
	The Agency may seek more time to consider evidence handed in on the day.

European Court of Human Rights

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what progress he has made in seeking reform of the European Court of Human Rights since the UK assumed the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe; and what meetings he (a) has held and (b) plans to hold with representatives from (i) the Council of Europe, (ii) the European Court of Human Rights, (iii) the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, (iv) the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights and (v) his counterparts from other countries to discuss the reform of the European Court of Human Rights;
	(2)  whether he plans to propose changes to the European Convention on Human Rights as part of the UK Chairmanship of the Council of Europe.

Kenneth Clarke: The UK assumed the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe on 7 November.
	As I stated in my answer of 11 October 2011, Official  Report, columns 23-24WS, the top priority for the UK Chairmanship is reform of the European Court of Human Rights. We aim to deliver a key stage of the reform process that has been ongoing for some years. The way the Court works is set out in the Convention, so reform could involve changes to the Convention if all 47 member states of the Council of Europe agree to it. We will be negotiating and agreeing a package of reforms with all member states during our Chairmanship.
	The Commission on a Bill of Rights has also provided interim advice on Court reform, which we will be taking into account during our negotiations.
	My ministerial colleagues and I have discussed the reform of the European Court of Human Rights with many key figures in the run up to our Chairmanship, many of which I met when I attended the Izmir Conference earlier this year during the Turkish Chairmanship. We will continue this approach in the coming months.
	For example, I met the Secretary General to the Council of Europe during his visit to the UK on 25 October, as did several other Government Ministers. The Attorney-General met with Court judges and officials during his visit to Strasbourg on 2 November and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended the handover ceremony in Strasbourg on 7 November. Last week, the Attorney-General and the Minister of State, Lord McNally, attended a conference on the long-term future of the Court at Wilton Park with representatives from across the Council of Europe and its member states. I am due to meet the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights when he visits the UK in December.
	My ministerial colleagues and I have also been raising the issue of reform of the Court with our ministerial counterparts in other member states where there has been opportunity for discussion.

Human Rights

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answers of 26 April 2011, Official Report, columns 144-49W and 6 September 2011, Official Report, column 383W, on human rights, whether there have been any further declarations of incompatibility under section 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998 since those answers.

Kenneth Clarke: There have been no further declarations of incompatibility under section 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998 since my previous answers. The last such declaration was made in November 2010 in the case of R (on the application of Royal College of Nursing and others) v. Secretary of State for Home Department.

Insolvency

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will seek to exempt insolvency proceedings from proposed changes to conditional fee arrangements and after-the-event insurance.

Jonathan Djanogly: I refer my hon. Friend, to my answer on 13 September 2011, Official Report, column 871. The Government are aware of the particular issues concerning the impact of the changes to conditional fee agreements and after the event insurance in insolvency proceedings. Departmental officials and I continue to discuss the likely impacts of these changes in relation to insolvency proceedings.

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people (a) pleaded guilty and (b) were found guilty for a second time of each offence listed in Schedule 16 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009 and (iii) 2010.

Crispin Blunt: The following table shows the number of people who were convicted for a second time for each offence listed in schedule 16 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, in the years 2008 to 2010. Attempted offences and offences involving aiding, abetting, conspiracy and incitement are classified with the main offence, and have not been separately identified.
	We do not hold reliable information on whether or not these offenders pleaded guilty. The figures relate to separate sentencing occasions; where an offender was sentenced on the same occasion for several offences it is the primary offence that has been counted. These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	
		
			 Number of people who were convicted for a second time for each offence listed in schedule 16 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, in the years 2008 to 2010 
			 Offence 2006 2009 2010 
			 Manslaughter 1 — — 
			 An offence under section 4 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 (soliciting murder) — — — 
			 An offence under section 18 of that Act (wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm) 194 176 188 
			 An offence under section 16 of the Firearms Act 1968 (possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life) 1 1 — 
			 An offence under section 17(1) of that Act (use of a firearm to resist arrest) — — — 
			 An offence under section 18 of that Act (carrying a firearm with criminal intent) 1 2 — 
			 An offence of robbery under section 8 of the Theft Act 1968 where, at some time during the commission of the offence, the offender had in his possession a firearm or an imitation firearm within the meaning of the Firearms Act — — — 
			 An offence under section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978 (indecent images of children) 70 59 70 
			 An offence under section 56 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (directing terrorist organisation) — — — 
			 An offence under section 57 of that Act (possession of article for terrorist purposes) — — — 
			 An offence under section 59 of that Act (inciting terrorism overseas) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life — — — 
			 An offence under section 47 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (use etc of nuclear weapons). — — — 
			 An offence under section 50 of that Act (assisting or inducing certain weapons-related acts overseas) — — — 
			 An offence under section 113 of that Act (use of noxious substance or thing to cause harm or intimidate) — — — 
			 An offence under section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 (rape)    
			 An offence under section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (rape) 11 9 4 
			 An offence under section 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (assault by penetration) — — — 
			 An offence under section 4 of that Act (causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life — — — 
			 An offence under section 5 of that Act (rape of a child under 13) — 1 2 
			 An offence under section 6 of that Act (assault of a child under 13 by penetration) — — — 
			 An offence under section 7 of that Act (sexual assault of a child under 13) 10 3 3 
			 An offence under section 8 of that Act (causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage In sexual activity) — — — 
			 An offence under section 9 of that Act (sexual activity with a child) 6 11 8 
			 An offence under section 10 of that Act (causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity) — 1 1 
			 An offence under section 11 of that Act (engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child) 2 3 2 
		
	
	
		
			 An offence under section 12 of that Act (causing a child to watch a sexual act) — — — 
			 An offence under section 14 of that Act (arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence) — — — 
			 An offence under section 15 of that Act (meeting a child following sexual grooming etc) — — 1 
			 An offence under section 25 of that Act (sexual activity with a child family member) if the offender is aged 18 or over at the time of the offence — — — 
			 An offence under section 26 of that Act (inciting a child family member to engage in sexual activity) if the offender is aged 18 or over at the time of the offence — — — 
			 An offence under section 30 of that Act (sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice) if the offender is liable on conviction on Indictment to imprisonment for life — — — 
			 An offence under section 31 of that Act (causing or inciting a person with a mental disorder to engage in sexual activity) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life — — — 
			 An offence under section 34 of that Act (inducement, threat or deception to procure sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life — — — 
			 An offence under section 35 of that Act (causing a person with a mental disorder to engage In or agree to engage in sexual activity by inducement etc) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life — — — 
			 An offence under section 47 of that Act (paying for sexual services of a child) against a person aged under 16 — — — 
			 An offence under section 48 of that Act (causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography) — — — 
			 An offence under section 49 of that Act (controlling a child prostitute or a child involved in pornography) — — — 
			 An offence under section 50 of that Act (arranging or facilitating child prostitution or pornography) — — — 
			 An offence under section 62 of that Act (committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence) if the offender is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life — — — 
			 An offence under section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult) — — — 
			 An offence under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 (preparation of terrorist acts) — — — 
			 An offence under section 9 of that Act (making or possession of radioactive device or materials) — — — 
			 An offence under section 10 of that Act (misuse of radioactive devices or material and misuse and damage of facilities) — — — 
			 An offence under section 11 of that Act (terrorist threats relating to radioactive devices, materials or facilities) — — — 
			 Murder 2 — 2 
			 An offence under section 5 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 (intercourse with a girl under 13) — — 1 
			 Total 298 266 282

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's risk register for the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.

Jonathan Djanogly: The financial and delivery risks associated with the policy in the Bill are contained in several documents at corporate and operational level across the Department, rather than in a specific Bill risk register. The impact assessments and equality impact assessments for the Bill detail the potential impacts of the proposals. These are published at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/bills-and-acts/bills/legal-aid-and-sentencing-bill.htm

Misconduct in Public Office: Prosecutions

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received on the cost of prosecuting the offence of misconduct in public office.

Crispin Blunt: My Department has not received any representations on the cost of prosecuting the offence of misconduct in public office.

Misconduct in Public Office: Prosecutions

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions for the offence of misconduct in public office there were in each year since 2005; and what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) the Crown Prosecution Service budget and (b) the public purse of prosecuting this offence in each year.

Crispin Blunt: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for misconduct in a Public Office under Common Law, in England and Wales, from 2005 to 2010 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table:
	
		
			 Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for ‘Misconduct in a public office’ (1,2)  England and Wales, 2005 to 2010 (3,4) 
			  Proceeded against 
			 2005 10 
			 2006(5) 8 
			 2007 21 
			 2008(6) 12 
		
	
	
		
			 2009 3 
			 2010 3 
			 (1) Is an offence under common law. (2) Defendants proceeded against for conspiring, aiding or abetting a public official to commit Misconduct in a Public Office are excluded from the data in the above table. (3) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used, (5) Figures provided for 2006 are the result of a validation process between MoJ and the courts. (6) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	Annual court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in the spring of 2012.
	No general estimate has been made of costs of prosecuting this offence each year. No central record is maintained by the Crown Prosecution Service or for the public purse as a whole of the costs of prosecuting specific offences at this level of detail.
	An estimate is available for average Crown court costs of prosecutions related to misconduct in public office, for 2009-10 and 2010-11. These were £427,000 and £422,000 respectively, based on a five-hour sitting day.

Prison Accommodation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much increased operational capacity in each prison in England and Wales is due to (a) new prison accommodation becoming available, (b) existing accommodation being returned to use, (c) an increase in multiple occupancy of prison cells and (d) other measures since 1 August 2011.

Crispin Blunt: Between Friday 29 July and Friday 18 November 2011 the operational capacity of the total prison estate increased by 1,253 places. The following table shows the number of places during this period which were delivered as a result of (a) new prison accommodation becoming available, (b) existing accommodation being returned to use, (c) an increase in multiple occupancy of prison cells and (d) other measures.
	
		
			  Number 
			 (a) new prison accommodation becoming available 338 
			 (b) existing accommodation being returned to use 983 
			 (c) an increase in multiple occupancy of prison cells 630 
			 (d) other measures (these are places returning to use at Morton Hall following its change of function to an immigration removal centre) 108 
			 Total 2,059 
		
	
	The table does not reflect those places that have been taken out of use during this period. Places can be taken out of use for a number of reasons. These include the recent operational closure of HMP Latchmere House and one house block at HMP Hewell. Other decreases are the result of accommodation being taken out of use for essential maintenance/refurbishment.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Pregnant Women

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many pregnant women were given a custodial sentence in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not all the circumstances of each case. It is therefore not possible to identify from these centrally held data whether a female, sentenced to immediate custody, was pregnant.

Prisons: Mother and Baby Units

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many mothers with babies were held in prison in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many female prisoners applied for and were refused a place in a mother and baby unit in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many women gave birth while serving a custodial sentence in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: Between 1 May 2010 and 31 March 2011 the average population of mothers in mother and baby units in prisons in England was 54. The population of mother and baby units includes expectant mothers.
	Between 1 May 2010 and 31 March 2011 there were 254 applications received for admission to a mother and baby unit, of which, 26 were refused by a board.
	Information prior to this date could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	We do not hold information centrally on women giving birth while serving their sentence, to obtain this could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Metal Theft

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many scrap metal dealers convicted of offences under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 have been the subject of an order under section 4 of that Act in each year from 1990 to 2011;
	(2)  how many scrap metal dealers have been found guilty of an offence under section 1(8) of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 resulting in a fine in each year from 1990 to 2011;
	(3)  how many scrap metal dealers have been prosecuted under section 2 of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 in each year from 1990 to 2011; and how many such prosecutions resulted from a failure to comply with section 2(4) of that Act.

Crispin Blunt: Data reported centrally for offences proceeded against under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 do not separately identify sections within the Act. Information is given in the table for the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty, sentenced and fined at all courts under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964, in England and Wales, for the years 2000 to 2010 (latest available).
	Court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in the spring of 2012.
	
		
			 Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty and sentenced at all courts, by result, under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 (1) , England & Wales, 2000-10 (2,3) 
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (4) 2009 2010 
			 Proceeded against 4 3 — 5 5 7 5 5 19 10 21 
			 Found guilty 2 1 — — 1 3 1 5 12 5 18 
			 Sentenced 2 1 — — 1 3 1 5 12 5 18 
			 Fine 2 1 — — — 3 — 4 11 4 10 
			 Conditional discharge — — — — 1 — 1 1 1 1 8 
			 (1) Includes: Offences by dealers in scrap metal and similar goods and in marine stores. (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Supreme Court: Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had on (a) enlarging the appointing commission and (b) reforming the appointment procedure for justices in the Supreme Court.

Kenneth Clarke: On 21 November 2011, I issued a public consultation on judicial diversity and appointments, which includes proposals on the appointments process for justices in the Supreme Court.
	Before launching the public consultation, I shared an early draft of the proposals with the President of the Supreme Court.

Work Capability Assessment: Appeals

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of work capability assessment decisions made by Atos were overturned on appeal in (a) England and (b) Makerfield constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions decisions on entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA) (decisions in which the work capability assessment is a key factor) rather than appeals against work capability assessment decisions themselves. The following tables show the proportion of employment and support allowance appeals cleared at hearing, which were found in favour of the appellant in (a) England and (b) the Wigan Tribunal venue in September 2011 (the latest date for which statistics have been published) and in the first two quarters of 2011-12. The Wigan Tribunal venue hears appeals from Makerfield constituency as well as other nearby locations.
	
		
			 Outcomes of ESA appeals 1 September 2011 to 30 September 2011 
			  No. cases cleared at hearing No. of DWP Decisions Upheld % Upheld No. Decided in Favour of Appellant % in Favour Other % other 
			 England(1) 10,898 6,895 63 3949 36 48 0 
			 Wigan 119 80 67 38 32 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Outcomes of ESA appeals 1 April 2011 to 30 September 2011 
			  No. cases cleared at hearing No. of DWP Decisions Upheld % Upheld No. Decided in Favour of Appellant % in Favour Other % other 
			 England(1) 66,158 41,405 63 24,388 37 365 1 
			 Wigan 667 447 67 218 33 2 0 
			 (1) This includes data for all venues based in England. Cases may occasionally be dealt with outside England, in Wales and Scotland. Note: This data is taken from management information.

Youth Custody

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people under the age of 18 were held in custody in England and Wales in each year between 1996-97 and 2010-11 inclusive.

Crispin Blunt: The table shows the average number of people under the age of 18 held in the secure estate for children and young people between 2000-01 and 2010-11.
	These data are from the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and refer to Secure Training Centres (STCs), Secure Children's Homes (SCHs), and Young Offender Institutions (YOIs). 2000-01 is the earliest date from which data are available that gives information on all secure establishments in the youth estate for this age group (10 to 17-year-olds). The 2010-11 figures are provisional. The final 2010-11 figures will be presented in the 2010-11 Youth Justice Statistics publication on 26 January 2012.
	
		
			 Table 1. Average secure estate population (10 to 17-year-olds) 
			  Number 
			 2000-01 2,807 
			 2001-02 2,801 
			 2002-03 3,029 
			 2003-04 2,771 
			 2004-05 2,745 
			 2005-06 2,830 
			 2006-07 2,914 
			 2007-08 2,932 
			 2008-09 2,881 
			 2009-10 2,418 
			 2010-11(1) 2,067 
			 (1) These figures are provisional. The final 2010-11 figures will be presented in the 2010-11 Youth Justice Statistics publication. Notes: 1. YJB data referring to Secure Training Centres (STCs), Secure Children's Homes (SCHs), and Young Offender Institutions (YOIs). The data does not include 18 to 21-year-olds held in YOI separate units for which the YJB do not hold data. 2. Youth custodial data are published on a monthly basis, this is a monthly snapshot of the custodial population (taken on the last Friday of the month or first Friday of the following month depending on which is nearer to the actual month end). Each annual figure is calculated as an average of all of the individual months in the year period (i.e. an average of the monthly snapshots) due to monthly fluctuation. Fluctuation arises as custodial population is a factor of number of young people sentenced, sentence length, and time spent on remand. 3.These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.

Youth Justice

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people entered the youth justice system for the first time in each year between 1996-97 and 2010-11.

Crispin Blunt: Figures for the number juvenile first time entrants to the criminal justice system in England and Wales are given in the table. The figures cover the years 2000-01 to 2010-11 and are taken from Table Q7.3 of the Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly Update to March 2011 which can be found at
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/criminal-justice/criminal-justice-statistics.htm
	Figure for years before 2000-01 are not available.
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	
		
			 Number of first time entrants aged between 10 and 17 to the criminal justice system (1)  in England and Wales, 12 months ending March 2001 to 12 months ending March 2011 
			 12 month period to the end of March Number of offenders 
			 2001 90,180 
			 2002 89,277 
			 2003 83,621 
			 2004 88,635 
			 2005 96,252 
			 2006 107,680 
			 2007 110,815 
			 2008 100,444 
			 2009 80,314 
			 2010 62,504 
			 2011 45,519 
			 (1 )Offenders recorded on the police national computer by an English or Welsh police force or by the British Transport police operating in England and Wales as having received their first conviction, reprimand or warning.

HEALTH

Ambulance Services: Standards

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of applying A8 ambulance response time targets by (a) primary care trust and (b) local authority area.

Simon Burns: The NHS Operating Framework provides for central performance management of the A8 ambulance response time targets at strategic health authority level. It is for local commissioners to determine the level of performance management at the primary care trust and local authority area.

Ambulance Services: Standards

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of reviewing A8 ambulance response times in England.

Simon Burns: Ambulance trusts are performance managed against the target requiring 75% of category A (immediately life threatening) calls to receive a response within eight minutes, which is a headline measure in the NHS Operating Framework. A8 ambulance response times data are published monthly.
	The Department is considering changes to strengthen the A8 ambulance response time target. We are looking at the whole system of dealing with care for the most seriously ill patients. We will introduce changes once a safe approach is agreed; but our priority is to maintain the highest quality care.

Ambulance Services: Standards

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the setting of ambulance response targets does not adversely affect rural areas.

Simon Burns: Ambulance trusts are performance managed against two ambulance response targets, which are headline measures in the NHS Operating Framework. Ambulance services have to meet these targets for their geographical area and it is for individual ambulance trusts to decide how to configure their work force to best respond to an emergency.
	Clinical quality indicators for the ambulance service came into effect from April 2011 and require each ambulance trust to publish the median time to treatment, the 95th centile time to treatment and 99th centile time to treatment for immediately life-threatening (Category A) calls. The requirement to publish this data, and in particular the 95th centile and 99th centile time to treatment, will ensure that trusts must demonstrate an excellent service to all patients, whether the incident occurs in a rural or urban setting.

Autism

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether people with autism will be involved in developing the Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies project; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what consideration will be given to the needs of people with autism in the Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies project; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what consideration he has given to including training on adapting talking therapies for people with autism in the curriculum for the Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies project.

Paul Burstow: The Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) project has been developed at a national level in partnership with young people and professionals to meet the needs of children and young people. The involvement of children and young people in design of the programme has been co-ordinated through YoungMinds, the national mental health charity for all children and young people including those with autism.
	The project aims to transform existing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) by adopting those elements of the IAPT programme which will improve outcomes for children and young people, providing treatment which is based on best evidence and embedding session-by-session outcome monitoring to ensure treatments are quality driven, outcomes focussed and client informed. This service transformation will benefit all children, young people and their parents (referred to the CAMHS that are part of the project) including those with autistic spectrum disorders.
	As part of the first phase, the children's IAPT project has developed a curriculum and training package to equip staff to treat a range of emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression, and for behavioural problems that commonly occur among children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders.

Barnardo’s: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding Barnardo’s received from his Department in 2010-11; how much he estimates it will receive in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The Department can confirm that Barnardo’s did not receive any funding in 2010-11 nor does it have any plans for 2011-12.
	In 2010-11 Barnardo’s was a national agent for the Opportunities for Volunteering scheme. In April 2010-11 it did initially receive a payment of £48,250 but this payment was returned to the Department as it was not utilised.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Health Services

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of provision of chronic fatigue specialist services in East Lancashire.

Paul Burstow: The provision of local health services, including chronic fatigue services, is a matter for local commissioners to determine, in conjunction with local stakeholders and taking into account the healthcare needs of their local communities.

Dental Services: Inspections

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will ensure that inspection of dental practices by the Care Quality Commission will only be undertaken by inspectors with appropriate dental expertise;
	(2)  what plans he has to use the knowledge and expertise of dental reference officers in the inspection of dental practices by the Care Quality Commission;
	(3)  what plans he has to use the knowledge and expertise of dental practice advisers in the regulation of dental practices.

Simon Burns: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is responsible for its own operational system and the Department is not involved in its inspection procedures. However, we are assured by the CQC that full training on the inspection of dental services is available to all the CQC staff and it is confident that its inspectors can effectively assess dentists' compliance with the registration requirements.
	The CQCs inspectors have access to specialist advice when required across all the sectors it regulates. We understand that there is an intention to increase this specialist provision and that the CQC is considering utilising dental reference officers for this purpose. The CQC employs a national advisor on dentists for two days a week.

Departmental Communication

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2011, Official Report, column 140W, on departmental communication, if he will place in the Library a list of each item of research commissioned by his Department through the Central Office of Information in 2009-10 and the cost to the public purse for each such item.

Simon Burns: A copy of this information as requested has been placed in the Library. The figures against each project include the Central Office of Information fees.

Diabetes: Young People

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what social and psychological support services his Department makes available to young adults and adolescents with diabetes; [R]
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the health and social needs experienced by young adults and adolescents with diabetes. [R]

Paul Burstow: It is for the local national health service to commission high-quality and safe diabetes services for all people with diabetes, including social and psychological support services, and services for young adults and adolescents. They are best placed to assess the needs of their local populations, informed by clinical involvement and leadership.
	The Department has not made a formal assessment of the health and social needs experienced by young adults and adolescents with diabetes.

General Practitioners: Pay

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average salary is of a GP in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England.

Simon Burns: Information on average salaries for general practitioners (GPs) in both the Ashfield constituency and Nottinghamshire are not available centrally. Information on latest average GP salaries for England and for the strategic health authorities is however reported by the Information Centre for health and social care and is contained in their latest GP Earnings and Expenses 2009-10 final report.
	The average England GP salary in 2009-10 is £109,400. The average GP salary within the East Midlands region is £115,700.

Health Professions: Qualifications

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the equivalence of qualifications gained in EU member states and outside the EU to a certificate of completion of training for employment purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: Doctors must be registered with a licence to practise with the General Medical Council (GMC) to practise medicine in the United Kingdom. All international medical graduates must possess an acceptable primary medical qualification in order to apply for registration with a licence to practise. For European Union doctors, the GMC is required to accept the qualifications of migrants if the member state where the qualifications was obtained is satisfied that they meet the minimum required under the Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications.

Health Professions: Qualifications

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on qualification levels assessed for employment purposes in the UK as equivalent to a certificate of completion of training for (a) each EU member state and (b) countries outside the EU.

Anne Milton: The Department does not hold this information.
	The General Medical Council (GMC) maintains a list of postgraduate qualifications they accept as providing sufficient evidence of an overseas doctor's knowledge and skill, for the purpose of full registration with a licence to practise. For European Union doctors, the GMC is required to accept the qualifications of migrants if the member state where the qualifications was obtained is satisfied that they meet the minimum required under the Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications.

Health Services

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for a referral for (a) physiotherapy and (b) speech therapy was (i) in Mid Sussex constituency, (ii) in the south-east and (iii) nationally in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The information requested is currently not collected centrally. The ‘Allied Health Professional (AHP) Referral to Treatment (RTT) Guide’, published in 2010, sets out a framework of rules for clock starts and clock stops to measure waiting times for patients when accessing national health service AHP services including physiotherapy and speech and language therapy.
	Nationally, AHP RTT data collection and reporting was due to be mandated from April 2011, however, as part of the public health spending reviews, the implementation date for collecting data is being reviewed. In the meantime, it is expected that local national health service organisations will collect these data locally to help them identify where service improvement is most needed.
	Work between the Department and the NHS Information Centre is in place to ensure the development and mandate of data sets by which the AHP RTT data collected locally can be flowed to a central source for national reporting.
	The ‘Allied Health Professional Referral to Treatment Guide’ has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_115297.pdf

Health Services: Disadvantaged

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effect of his proposals for health reforms on people experiencing social exclusion.

Simon Burns: The equality analysis for the Health and Social Care Bill assesses the equality impact of the reforms set out in the Bill, and considers several factors that can contribute to social exclusion. In carrying out this analysis the Department considered the impact in relation to age; disability; gender reassignment; pregnancy and maternity; race and ethnicity; religion and belief; sex; sexual orientation and socio-economic status.
	The equality analysis can be found on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsLegislation/DH_123583
	Separate equality analyses and equality impact assessments have been produced for other aspects of the NHS White Paper ‘Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS’, including an initial equality impact assessment on patient choice published alongside the consultation document ‘Greater choice and control’, and an initial list of equality opportunities and concerns published alongside a summary of the responses received to the ‘Information Revolution’ consultation.
	An equality impact assessment was also carried out on the Public Health White Paper, ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People’, published on 30 November 2010.

Health Services: Regulation

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons he decided the Care Quality Commission was ready to take on the regulation of (a) providers of dental services in 2011 and (b) NHS primary medical services in 2012.

Simon Burns: The timetable for the registration of providers of healthcare and adult social care, including providers of primary dental services and national health service primary medical services, is set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010. These Regulations were approved by Parliament in March 2010 under the previous Government.
	Under the terms of the regulations providers of different types of health care and adult social care services were required to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in several waves between April 2010 and April 2012. This phased approach to implementing the new registration system was designed to make the workload of registering around 30,000 providers more manageable for the CQC.
	In April 2011, the registration of providers of primary dental service providers and independent ambulance services proved more challenging than had been anticipated and was not completed by 1 April 2011. In the light of this, the Department has put in place regulations that defer the registration of most providers of NHS primary medical services until 1 April 2013. This delay will provide the CQC with the opportunity to ensure that its systems, tools and processes are refined in the light of the experience of earlier registration rounds.

King’s Mill Hospital

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for an appointment with a consultant at King's Mill hospital in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The information requested is not available. Information on the mean and median time waited(1) in days for an outpatient(2) appointment at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust(3), 2005-06 to 2009-10(4) is available in the following table:
	
		
			  Mean Median 
			 2009-10 30.0 25 
			 2008-09 29.2 25 
			 2007-08 28.0 26 
			 2006-07 33.4 26 
			 2005-06 43.2 35 
			 (1 )Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. Waiting times statistics are usually only calculated for first attendances of patients referred by general practitioners and dentists, whereas the Time Waited data here include all referral types. It is unclear whether the data collected has any relevance to subsequent attenders. Analysis of the data has revealed high (up to 100%) percentages of zero day waits for some providers suggesting poor data recording. (2 )It is not possible to specifically select appointments with a consultant, but where the main treating specialty is Nursing (950), Midwifery (560) or Allied Health Professional (960) these have been excluded. (3 )A provider code is a unique code that identifies an organisation acting as a health care provider (e.g. NHS trust or primary care trust). Hospital providers can also include treatment centres (TC). Normally, if data are tabulated by health care provider, the figure for an NHS trust gives the activity of all the sites as one aggregated figure. However, in the case of those with embedded TCs, these data are quoted separately. In these cases, “-X” is appended to the code for the rest of the trust, to remind users that the figures are for all sites of the trust excluding the TCs. The quality of TC returns are such that data may not be complete. Some NHS trusts have not registered their TC as a separate site, and it is therefore not possible to identify their activity separately. Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using this data as the counts may be lower than true figures. (4 )HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care.

Maternity Services

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information maternity services are required to provide to parents about local parenting support services.

Anne Milton: Health professionals support women and their partners in the transition to parenthood by discussing the postnatal health and social needs of the mother and her baby and by developing an individual plan of postnatal care to address those needs.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guideline on postnatal care (published in 2006) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Standards for Maternity Care (published in 2008) state that postnatal care should include provision of information to both mothers and fathers on infant care, parenting skills and accessing local community groups.
	The Department has also recently (October 2011) launched ‘Preparing for Birth and Beyond’ pack, an online resource, which aims to help the national health service, local authorities and the voluntary sector involved in planning or running groups for expectant and new parents.

Medicine: Education

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether strategic health authority clusters will be permitted to (a) hold back and (b) top slice any centrally-provided funding for postgraduate medical education (i) in 2011-12 and (ii) in subsequent years.

Anne Milton: Postgraduate medical education is funded through the Multi Professional Education and Training (MPET) budget issued to strategic health authorities (SHAs) as part of the annual national health service central budget bundle. It is for SHAs to determine the level of spending necessary to deliver the required outcomes for the various elements of training and development.
	MPET is not ring-fenced and it is the responsibility of SHAs to invest the budget appropriately. However, there is an education and training service level agreement (SLA) between SHAs and the Department, which ensures that SHAs are held to account for the funding and quality of the training they provide for healthcare students and the NHS work force. In 2011-12, the SHAs have forecasted to spend £4.873 billion of the £4.879 billion MPET budget.
	“Liberating the NHS: Developing the healthcare workforce” set out proposals for a new system for planning and developing the work force. The consultation was followed by the Listening Exercise. More detailed proposals on the new system, across a range of issues including funding, will be published later this year.

Medicine: Education

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on patient safety of levels of funding for postgraduate medical education during the comprehensive spending review period.

Anne Milton: Postgraduate medical education is funded through the Multi Professional Education and Training (MPET) budget issued to strategic health authorities (SHAs) as part of the annual national health service central budget bundle. It is for SHAs to determine the level of spending necessary to deliver the required outcomes for the various elements of training and development.
	MPET is not ring-fenced. It is the responsibility of SHAs to invest the budget appropriately and determine the correct number of postgraduate medical trainees, in their area, for the work force needed to deliver services required by patients. The trainee doctors also contribute to service delivery.
	The General Medical Council sets the standards for the delivery of postgraduate medical education and quality assures the delivery of training against those standards. Their recommendations are contained in “The Trainee Doctor” (2011). This includes recommendations on essential safeguards on any action by trainees that affects the safety and wellbeing of patients.
	The Department has worked in collaboration with SHAs to develop a safety and quality assurance process to ensure that any significant change proposed in the size and shape of the clinical work force has involved clinicians at all levels, maximising on their engagement, leadership and sign off. Where NHS organisations are planning or experience changes to their work force, they will need to demonstrate that their systems, processes and governance arrangements are adequate to uphold the rights of patients covering quality and care of environment, as set out in “Liberating the NHS: Developing the healthcare workforce”.

Medicine: Education

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department plans to allocate to postgraduate medical education during the comprehensive spending review period.

Anne Milton: Although funding for postgraduate medical education forms part of the wider multi professional education and training (MPET) budget, it is not a separate funding stream. This is in order to provide strategic health authorities (SHAs) with flexibility to address local workforce priorities within the national framework set out in the education and training service level agreement between SHAs and the Department.
	In 2011-12, the MPET budget is £4.9 billion. The cash budgets for MPET in 2012-13 will be maintained at the level of this financial year. The level of funding for the remainder of the comprehensive spending review has not yet been confirmed but will reflect the ongoing requirements of the national health service workforce.

Muscular Dystrophy

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on establishing a managed clinical network for neuromuscular conditions in each NHS region; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: During 2010-11, the 10 regional Specialised Commissioning Groups (SCGs) and National Specialised Commissioning team (NSCT) collaborated to produce a detailed work plan for neuromuscular services.
	This neuromuscular work stream is led by East of England SCG working with the individual SCG/NSCT neuromuscular leads. In July, a more formal group was established and the existing work plan was enlarged to include communications and engagement.
	A workshop to which patients, carers and support organisations have been invited is scheduled for later this year.

Neurology: Surgery

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what timetable he has set for the development of nationally convergent commissioning policies for specialised neurosurgery; who will be responsible for the development process; and what engagement is planned with clinicians and patients.

Simon Burns: The work on nationally convergent commissioning policies for specialised neurosurgery has been under way since April 2011 and is planned to be completed by October 2012. It includes streams of work led by a national transition team for specialised services working with the current Specialised Commissioning Groups. The responsibility lies with the Specialised Services Transition Oversight Group chaired by the Commissioning Director of NHS Midlands and East with a directly accountable Clinical Assurance Group and Patient and Public Engagement Group. Extensive, nationally co-ordinated engagement is planned with clinicians and users, looking at specific groups of services during 2012.

NHS Staff: Assaults

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the level of assaults on NHS staff in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The number of physical assaults against staff reported by national health service bodies in England has been collected annually since 2004-05. Total figures are in the following table.
	
		
			 Reported physical assaults against NHS staff 
			  Number 
			 2008-09 54,758 
			 2009-10 56,718 
			 2010-11 57,830 
		
	
	Information on the number of reported physical assaults against NHS staff for the years 2008-09 and 2009-10, can be found in the ‘Tables showing the number of reported physical assaults on NHS staff for 2008-09, broken down by NHS trust/PCT’ and the ‘Table showing the number of reported physical assaults on NHS staff in 2009-10, broken down by NHS trust/PCT’ which have already been placed in the Library.
	Information on the number of reported physical assaults against NHS staff for the year 2010-11, can be found in the 'Tables showing the number of reported physical assaults on NHS staff in 2010-11, broken down by NHS Trust/PCT' which has been placed in the Library.
	The Government are committed to encouraging NHS organisations to work better with their local police forces to clamp down on anyone who is aggressive and abusive to staff.
	Each NHS body has a duty to address the risks to their staff. NHS Protect is the body responsible for leading work to tackle violence against NHS staff. This includes the provision of guidance and operational support to enable trusts to address their responsibilities in relation to the safety and security of their staff and encouraging trusts to work with local police forces to take action against those who are violent or abusive. Where violent incidents do occur, NHS Protect is committed to ensuring that tough action, including all appropriate sanctions, is taken against those who are violent and aggressive against towards NHS staff.

NHS: Reorganisation

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department has received in relation to the Health and Social Care Bill since it was published; and how many such requests have been refused in full or in part.

Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on 19 January 2011.
	The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Initial freedom of information requests about the Health and Social Care Bill since 19 January 2011 
			  Number of cases 
			 Full disclosure 27 
			 Partial disclosure 23 
			 Non-disclosure 3 
			 Live cases—as yet unanswered 5 
			 Total 58

Nutrition

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether officials of his Department have assessed the legal arguments submitted to it by the Health Food Manufacturers' Association in relation to the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation, its interpretation and its implementation; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: Departmental officials have considered the legal arguments submitted to it by the Health Food Manufacturers' Association in relation to the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation.

Palliative Care

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to conduct a review of end-of-life decision-making within the NHS.

Paul Burstow: The Department has no plans to conduct a review of end of life decision-making.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to agree the Doctors Dispensing Fees Envelope.

Simon Burns: This matter is the subject of on-going negotiations between the General Practitioners' Committee of the British Medical Association and NHS Employers.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to allocate the £8.6 million surplus in the dispensing doctors budget in 2010-11.

Simon Burns: Negotiations with the General Practitioners' Committee of the British Medical Association on dispensing doctor fee scales for 2011-12 continue, including consideration of the underspend that occurred in 2010-11 against the fee scale budget envelope.

Smoking: Motor Vehicles

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to bring about behaviour change amongst parents smoking around children in cars; how his Department plans to evaluate whether such steps are changing parents' behaviour; and whether his Department will bring forward legislative proposals if behaviour change is not successful.

Anne Milton: In March, we published the “Tobacco Control Plan for England”, which sets out our plans to help drive down smoking rates and reduce the harms from tobacco over the next five years. This plan includes our commitment to launch a national marketing campaign, planned for spring 2012, to remind smokers of the risks of exposing children and adults to second hand smoke and to encourage them to stop smoking in their homes and cars when children are present. We will evaluate the impact of the campaign on smokers' behaviour.
	Rather than extending smokefree legislation, we want people to recognise the risks of second hand smoke and decide voluntarily to make their cars and homes smokefree.
	A copy of the “Tobacco Control Plan for England” has already been placed in the Library.